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(DP 2004-12) An International Comparison of Constitutional Style: Implications for Economic Progress

UPSE Discussion Papers

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Title (DP 2004-12) An International Comparison of Constitutional Style: Implications for Economic Progress
 
Creator Sicat, Gerardo P.
Sicat, Loretta Makasiar
 
Description Using the United States constitution as yardstick for its essential simplicity and completeness in describing the structure of government, the constitutions of twenty-two countries were studied for their language style, brevity and coverage of provisions. Most constitutions of later years have expanded coverage of institutions and the rights of citizens. The outcome is that constitutions became much longer because of broader content but also because they also cover details of institutional processes and structures. The expansion of concerns of constitutions also incorporated economic and social guarantees of citizens in addition to the guarantees of political rights and individual freedoms. Countries with simpler constitutional frameworks have experienced relative constitutional stability more than countries with long and detailed constitutions. The systemic collapse of socialist states in the 1990s brought about some return to constitutions that are simpler in coverage and which incorporate a balance of political and economic and social rights, including protection of property rights. The last part of the study comments on the implications of these constitutional structures to economic progress.
 
Publisher UPSE Discussion Papers
 
Contributor
 
Date 2010-08-26
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Peer-reviewed Article
 
Format application/pdf
 
Identifier http://www.econ.upd.edu.ph/dp/index.php/dp/article/view/117
 
Source UPSE Discussion Papers; 2004
 
Language eng
 
Relation http://www.econ.upd.edu.ph/dp/index.php/dp/article/view/117/113