Economics
Constitutional Design and the Stability of Democratic Transitions
Quick fact
Countries with parliamentary systems are far less likely to experience democratic breakdown than those with presidential systems: in the decades after World War II, more than half of presidential democracies collapsed, compared to only about 20% of parliamentary ones.
Why this is interesting
Why did democracy take root in post-war Germany but collapse in inter-war Germany, despite a seemingly well-designed constitution? The answer may lie in how constitutional rules shape the game of politics itself.