Specificity and Prosperity

Abstract

AbstractStates with lengthier constitutions experience higher unemployment, reduced income per capita, greater income inequality, and reduced policy innovativeness generally. These effects arise among the American states even though so much economic and monetary policy comes out of the nation’s capital. Importantly, past constitution length predicts future performance, but past performance does not predict future constitution length. High constitutional amendment rates do not ameliorate these negative effects of constitution length on state performance. These findings constitute the book’s empirical core, demonstrating that constitutional specificity harms ordinary citizens by impairing the state’s ability to adapt to changing conditions. Lengthy constitutions bind states.