James Robinson, Nobel laureate in Economics: ‘You cannot achieve an inclusive economy with an authoritarian regime’
The economist and political scientist from the University of Chicago rejects the idea that repressive power structures will surpass the success of democratic systems, predicting that the Chinese model will eventually have to change
Another good Q&A with Robinson (2023):
“Transition to democracy is not easy”
We emphasize two things: first, people need a strong state that regulates society, collects taxes, provides people with goods, and maintains order. But the state should be forced to work for the benefit of society. Therefore, political power should be distributed among the population. Thus, if one of these two things fails, extractive political institutions emerge in society. Here we focus on: the political foundations of inclusive economic institutions and how inclusive economic institutions can lead to prosperity.
(Emphasis mine.)