The Political Economy of Financial Systems: Evidence from Suffrage Reforms in the Last Two Centuries

H.A. Degryse, T. Lambert, A. Schwienbacher

Research output: Working paperDiscussion paperOther research output

653 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Abstract: Initially, voting rights were limited to wealthy elites providing political support for stock markets. The franchise expansion induces the median voter to provide political support for banking development as this new electorate has lower financial holdings and benefits less from the uncertainty and financial returns from stock markets. Our panel data evidence covering 1830-1999 shows that tighter restrictions on the voting franchise induce a greater stock market development, whereas a broader voting franchise is more conducive towards the banking sector, consistent with Perotti and von Thadden (2006). Our results are robust to controlling for other political determinants and endogeneity.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationTilburg
PublisherFinance
Number of pages59
Volume2013-046
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Publication series

NameCentER Discussion Paper
Volume2013-046

Keywords

  • banking sector
  • financial development
  • financial structure
  • political economy
  • stock markets
  • voting franchise

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Political Economy of Financial Systems: Evidence from Suffrage Reforms in the Last Two Centuries'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this