AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.
The statement is largely valid. While democracies have limitations in economic performance, they are still preferable to dictatorships for several reasons:
Economic Growth: Table 1 shows that all dictatorial regimes had a slightly higher growth rate (4.42%) compared to democracies (3.95%). However, when comparing only poor countries, the difference is negligible (4.34% vs 4.28%). Thus, democracy does not guarantee faster growth, but it does not significantly lag either.
Inequality: Democracies do not effectively reduce inequality. In South Africa and Brazil, the top 20% earn over 60% of national income, leaving under 3% for the bottom 20%.
Why prefer democracy still?
Therefore, democracy is preferred not just on economic grounds but for strong moral and prudential reasons.
Source: Chapter 5 — Democratic Politics II, Outcomes of Democracy
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Examiners expect you to critically examine — meaning acknowledge both strengths AND limitations. Don't simply praise democracy. Use the data from Table 1 and Table 2 as evidence (examiners reward specific figures). Then pivot to non-economic outcomes as the "compelling reasons." The five bullet points on why democracy is better (from the textbook's Madam Lyngdoh's class discussion) are key — memorise them.