The constitution of ambiguity: The effects of constitutions on economic freedom

This article follows de Vanssay et al. (2005) in examining the effects of characteristics of constitutions on economic freedom, using data originating in the Database of Political Institutions. With recent data, correlational findings are reproduced and extended. However, introducing almost any degree of identification draws results strongly into question. There are strong reasons against placing confidence in a causal relationship between a broader array of constitutional characteristics and economic freedom. But the variables considered here do not include direct measures of democracy or civil liberties, whose positive effects on economic freedom have stronger support elsewhere in the literature.