Are Parliamentary Systems Better?

• Published in: Comparative political studies Vol. 42; no. 3; pp. 327 - 359
• Main Authors: Gerring, John, Thacker, Strom C., Moreno, Carola
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.03.2009; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Comparative analysis; Democracy; Development; Development policy; Economic development; Federalism; Governance; Human development; Legislative Bodies; Parliamentary government; Parliamentary systems; Political development; Political institutions; Political Systems; Presidential systems; Presidentialism; Presidents; Separation of Powers; parliamentarism/parliamentary; development; separation of powers; presidentialism; governance
• ISSN: 0010-4140; 1552-3829
• DOI: 10.1177/0010414008325573

The institutional differences between presidential and parliamentary rule are well known, yet the practical effects of these divergent constitutional arrangements within democratic polities have received scant attention. This article employs a global data set to test the relationship between a historical measure of parliamentary rule and 14 indicators ranging across three policy areas: political development, economic development, and human development. The study revealed a strong relationship between parliamentarism and good governance, particularly in the latter two policy areas. To the extent that these institutions influence the quality of governance, parliamentary systems may offer advantages over presidential systems of democratic rule.