Trusting Constitutions
نویسندگان
چکیده
Two explanations for the importance of trusting constitutions are offe-red : First, constitutions that convey trust towards citizens have posi-tive effects by fostering civic virtue. A crucial factor of a trusting con-stitution is the extent to which the citizens are allowed to actively par-ticipate in the political process. We present empirical evidence thatparticipation via popular referenda and initiatives can lead to highercivic virtue in the form of tax compliance. Second, constitutions canbe trusted in the sense that the constitutional approach provides va-luable insights to social and political problems. We show that differentconstitutional designs affect one of the ultimate objecitves of life – thehappiness of the citizens.
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