The next Asian miracle: democracies are peaceful, representative--and terrible at boosting an economy. Or at least that's the conventional wisdom in Asia, where for years growth in India's sprawling democracy has been humbled by China s efficient, state-led boom. But India's new found economic success flips that notion on its head. Could it be that democracy is good for growth after all? If so, China better watch its back. From: Foreign Policy | Date: July 1, 2008| Author: Huang, Yasheng | COPYRIGHT 2008 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Consider the experiences of the following two Asian countries. In 1990, Country A had a per capita GDP of $317; Country B's stood at $461. By 2006, Country A, though 31 percent poorer than Country B only 16 years earlier, had caught up: It enjoyed a per capita GDP of $634, compared with Country B's $635. So, if you had to guess, which of these two Asian countries would you assume is a democracy?

You might be tempted to conclude that the ...