The role of the free press in promoting democratization, good governance, and human development (*)
Synopsis: What is the role of the free press in strengthening good governance, democracy and human development? To explore these issues, Part I presents the analytical framework, develops the core testable propositions, and summarizes the previous research literature on the topic. Part II outlines the comparative framework, evidence, and research design. This study utilizes a large-N cross-sectional comparison to analyze the impact of press freedom on multiple indicators of democracy and good governance. Freedom House provides the principle measure of Press Freedom with annual data available from 1992 to 2005. Part III describes the distribution of press freedom and regional trends. Part IV analyzes the impact of these patterns. The regression models control for many factors commonly associated with processes of democratization and good governance, such as wealth, ethnic fractionalization, and colonial histories. The results confirm that the free press does matter for a range of indicators of good governance, and it is integral to the process of democratization. The Conclusion summarizes the key findings and considers their consequences for strengthening political and human development and thereby alleviating poverty.