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Should Economists Rule the World? Trends and Implications of Leadership Patterns in the Developing World, 1960—2005

Department of Political Science, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6 Canada, ahira{at}sfu.ca

This article examines more carefully the oft-made hypotheses that (1) "technocrats" or politicians with an economics background are increasingly common and (2) that this "improvement" in qualifications will lead to improvements in economic policy. The article presents a database on the qualifications of leaders of the world's major countries over the past four decades. The article finds that while there is evidence for increasing "technification," there are also distinct and persistent historical patterns among Asian, African, Middle Eastern, and Latin American leaders. Using statistical analysis, the article finds that we cannot conclude that leadership training in economics leads to better economic outcomes.

Key Words: Economic policy • Elites • Development • Leadership • Neoliberalism • Technocrats

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