Replication Data for: Democracy by demand? Reinvestigating the effect of self-expression values on political regime type

The notion that cultural characterics influence political regimes remains popular, despite mixedsupporting evidence. In particular, democracy is argued to emerge and thrive in countries where liberal or freedom-oriented values (so-called self-expression values) are widespread. Inglehart and Welzel (2005), for instance, report such an effect, mainly drawing inferences from cross-country comparisons. Yet, cross-country correlations between self-expression values and democracy could stem from different processes. Reinvestigating this relationship, we find no empirical support when employing models accounting for sample-selection bias, country-specific effects, and the endogeneity of values to democracy. Self-expression values do not enhance democracy levels or democratization chances, and neither do they stabilize existing democracies. In contrast, we find indications that a country’s experience with democracy enhances self-expression values.