It has been recognized that the support for democracy seems to be increasing with the time spent in a democratic system. An individual’s life experience living under democratic rule positively affects the support for democracy as a political system.

Lessons from East Europe: Democratic Support and Corruption
IW Report
Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW)
It has been recognized that the support for democracy seems to be increasing with the time spent in a democratic system. An individual’s life experience living under democratic rule positively affects the support for democracy as a political system.
Therefore it seemed inevitable that the newly democratic eastern European member countries of the European Union would reap the benefits of democratization and slowly foster democratic support. However, recent backlashes to democratic rule in those countries seem to be contradictory. Therefore this paper investigates whether people’s rising democratic capital in these new democracies also increases the support for democracy in those countries. Furthermore we examine if the quality of other institutions and especially corruption play a role in shaping the support for democracy and whether the positive effect of democratic capital on democratic support might be undermined. We find that the recent repercussions to democratic rule in eastern European countries are no coincidence. The effect of people’s rising democratic capital on the support for democracy is negative in those countries. It has therefore been falling. Moreover, we establish that the increased experiences of corruption in these states undermine the support for democracy. Specifically, that democracy and corruption are complementary institutions. Only in the absence of corruption can the experience of democracy have its full effect on prodemocratic attitudes.

Dominik Enste / Martin Acht: Democratic Support and Corruption – Lessons from East Europe
IW Report
Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW)

Soziale Ungleichheit: Deutsche Gesellschaft ist nicht gespalten
Die Rede von gesellschaftlicher Spaltung sei unzutreffend und gefährlich, sagt IW-Wirtschaftsethiker Dominik Enste im Interview mit dem Deutschlandfunk. Er betont die Stärken der sozialen Marktwirtschaft und sagt: Mehr Harmonie sei in einem Land dieser Größe ...
IW
Religiosität: Gottesdienste machen glücklicher
An Heiligabend sind die Kirchen besonders voll, doch immer weniger Menschen gehen regelmäßig in die Kirche. Dabei zeigen Studien: Wer regelmäßig in den Gottesdienst geht, ist glücklicher.
IW