10% Less Democracy: Why You Should Trust Elites a Little More and the Masses a Little Less

Garett Jones

Published by Stanford University Press 2020

10% Less Democracy

Why You Should Trust Elites a Little More and the Masses a Little Less

Garett Jones

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781503611214

Overview
Contents

About this book

Democracy is a matter of degree, and this book offers mainstream empirical evidence that shows how rich democracies would be better off with a few degrees less of it.

Author information

Garett Jones is Associate Professor of Economics at the Center for Study of Public Choice, George Mason University. He also holds the BB&T Professorship for the Study of Capitalism at the Mercatus Center. Garett's research and commentary have appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Forbes, and Businessweek. His first book, Hive Mind: How Your Nation's IQ Matters So Much More Than Your Own (Stanford, 2015) was a Gold Medalist in the 2016 Independent Publisher Book Awards.

Reviews

Charlotta Stern, Professor of Sociology, Stockholm University:
"The belief in democracy is strong in most rich, democratic countries, even sacred. Why in the world would anyone propose ten percent less of it? The key is sharpening our thinking on what 'democracy' means. Once we allow a sharper definiteion, decision-making by the vote of all, we demystify 'democracy' and more sensibly assess its pluses and minuses. Jones' argument is persuasive and rests on global data."

The Economist:
"Mr Jones musters plenty of convincing evidence that fewer elections and more distance between voters and decisions make for better governance."

Janan Ganesh:
"In his cheeky new book, 10% Less Democracy, the economist Garett Jones makes a counter-zeitgeist case for more 'epistocracy,' or rule by the knowledgeable. Recent weeks have rather made the case for him and altered that zeitgeist."

Jason Brennan, author of Cracks in the Ivory Tower:
"10% Less Democracy is a joy to read. If you liked Freakonomics or Predictably Irrational, you'll love this book. It deserves to be read widely, widely discussed—and acted upon. A tour de force combining the best economic insight with real-world, practical applications. Every chapter demonstrates ways in which reducing democratic control over certain decisions reliably results in better outcomes for all. We should jettison our religious attachment to democracy and see it for what it is: a tool good only in moderation."

Tim Groseclose, Professor of Economics:
"If a genie told me that James Madison had been reincarnated as another person and had written an update to the Federalist Papers, I'd say, 'It's Garett Jones and 10% Less Democracy, right?'"

Adrian Wooldridge:
"How can we rescue democracy from the slough of despond into which it has fallen? In this lucidly written book, Garett Jones makes the case for a surprising answer: the best way to improve democracy is to have a bit less of it. It's only by handing power to technical experts, lengthening congressional terms, staggering elections, and reducing direct democracy that we can save the invaluable core of democracy from self-destruction."

Tyler Cower:
"Invocation of 'democracy' is one of the most ill-defined canards of modern discourse. In this revisionist work, rooted in common sense, Jones shows that effective representative government does not in fact rest on pure democracy, but does rely on well-functioning elites. Definitely recommended."

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	viii
INTRODUCTION. The Source of My Idea Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1. The Big Benefits of a Small Dose of Democracy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	9
2. Longer Terms, Braver Politicians Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	27
3. Central Bank “Independence” Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	41
4. The 2% Solution Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	63
5. This Chapter Does Not Apply to Your Country Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	95
6. Bondholders as a Separate and Coequal Branch of Government Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	118
7. Jonathan Rauch, Prophet of Political Realism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	137
8. The Hard Case of the European Union Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	148
9. Singapore: Flourishing with 50% Less Democracy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	169
CONCLUSION. Buying the Right Dose of Democracy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	177
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	189
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	191
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	207
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	221

Language: English
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 248
Illustrations
- Illustrations: 3
Keywords: democracy; epistocracy; oligarchy; elections; central banks; politics; reform

eBook

Published: February 4, 2020
ISBN: 9781503611214