The Effect of Political Instability on Economic Growth in Iran between Two Revolutions (1907-1979)

Author

Faculty of Economics, University of Allameh Tabataba’i, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

From the constitutional revolution (1907) to the Islamic revolution (1979), Iranian governments had been fluctuated sharply (longevity of government from 3 days to more than 12 years). This situation was the result of permanent competition between the king, parliament, government, interest groups, and also international political conditions. In this paper, we study the effect of mentioned conditions on economic growth. For this purpose, we define 7 political instability indices and examine the best definition for political instability that was suitable for the Iranian condition in mentioned duration. Using the Solow growth model and OLS approach, we find that when the longevity of government was smaller than four years, or the longevity of two of three sequential governments were smaller than one year, then Iran experienced political instability and it shrinks the economic growth. Finally, we find that when the government was politically stable, and institutional constraints on government by other branches were strong, the Iranian economy experienced positive and reliable economic growth. These conditions had been experienced in three periods of time: 1927-1939, 1955-1960, and 1964-1977. It means that the duration of 1907-1979 can be divided into two major parts: duration of political stability with remarkable economic growth (for three mentioned periods), and duration of political instability with high economic fluctuations or recession.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Economic Review
Volume 25, Issue 4
December 2021
Pages 777-790

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