Introduction: The Printing Press as an Agent of Power

Helmers, Helmer; Lamal, Nina; Cumby, Jamie

doi:10.1163/9789004448896_002

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2023

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“…However, if the elite monopolizes the new technology it can potentially reinforce its control of the population. For example, it can collect more information about the citizens, improve internal communication within the regime, and manipulate the information the citizens receive (DellaVigna & Kaplan, 2007; Lamal et al, 2023; Yanagizawa‐Drott, 2014). Due to these reasons, I assume that the regime assesses the perceived net effect of the new technology and analyze both the case where the regime perceives that

C^{'} ()(, θ) < 0

and the case where

C^{'} ()(, θ) > 0

.…”

Section: Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technology adoption in autocratic economies: The role of fiscal capacity

Janus

2023

Scottish J Political Eco

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What determines technology in autocratic regimes? In this paper, I assume that a rent‐extracting regime can adopt technology from the global technology frontier, tax‐paying citizens can oust the regime, and technology can decrease the ousting cost. I show that a lack of fiscal capacity can increase technology by preventing the ousting constraint from binding. Consistent with this prediction, tax collections and total factor productivity are negatively related in autocratic regimes. Extensions show that natural resources can divorce fiscal revenues from technology, which can encourage technology blocking. However, if technology adoption is socially costly, autocratic regimes can adopt too much technology.

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