Globalization and the (Mis)Governance of Nations
45 Pages Posted: 2 Feb 2012
Date Written: January 31, 2012
Abstract
We analyze whether or not the globalization of capital, ‘disciplines’ governments and improves governance. We demonstrate that globalization affects governance, by increasing a country’s vulnerability to sudden capital flight. This increased threat of capital flight can discipline governments and improve governance and welfare by placing countries in a ‘golden straitjacket’. However, globalization may also ‘overdiscipline’ governments - resulting in a perverse impact on governmental incentives that catalyzes (mis)governance. Accordingly, the paper suggests a novel (and qualified) role for capital controls. Finally, we provide some suggestive evidence consistent with the predictions from our theoretical framework.
Keywords: globalization, governance, capital flight, capital controls, discipline
JEL Classification: F550, F360
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation