Better Days to Come? Military Coups, Economic Growth, and the Restoration of Democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa recently experienced a rise in the frequency of military coups. Soldiers who take power often claim that their intervention will usher in development and eventually also real democracy. But do coups actually contribute to improving economic growth and democratic progress? We investigate the economic and political consequences of military takeovers by examining the 94 successful coups that took place across the sub-Saharan region between 1960 and 2023. Our findings show that in recent decades military coups had a negative impact on economic growth and, while often followed by a return to elections, they hardly led to democratic advancements.