"

!"#$%&'%( '*+ !,%-'-$&./,0 1"2,.,-"+ 3$+"4$$5

!ose AnLonlo Chelbub (unlverslLy of llllnols aL urbana-Champalng)
!ennlfer Candhl (Lmory unlverslLy)
!ames 8aymond vreeland (CeorgeLown unlverslLy)

SepLember 2009 (v.1)

67 819:;6<6;9 =>? @81A!

As slmple as lL may be, Lhere ls no one sysLem of numberlng Lhe counLrles of Lhe world
LhaL would allow scholars Lo easlly merge all Lhe varled daLaseLs lnLo one overall
daLaseL. 1he dlfflculLy, of course, comes from Lhe facL LhaL counLrles come and go and
counLrles someLlmes change slgnlflcanLly Lhelr LerrlLorlal basls whlle reLalnlng Lhelr old
names. lor some analyses (e.g., for economlc or demographlc Llme serles), we wanL Lo
mark Lhe facL LhaL aklsLan losL Lhe LerrlLory LhaL became 8angladesh ln 1971, or LhaL
LLhlopla losL Lhe LerrlLory LhaL became LrlLrea ln 1993, or LhaL lndonesla losL Lhe
LerrlLory LhaL became LasL 1lmor ln 2002. AL Lhe same Llme, for some oLher analyses
(e.g., Lhose relaLed Lo Lhe occurrence of elecLlons and Lhe changes of heads of sLaLe and
governmenL), Lhe facL LhaL some LerrlLory was losL ls lrrelevanL. lor Lhe flrsL Lype of
analyses, aklsLan before 1971 should be LreaLed as a dlfferenL counLry as aklsLan afLer
1971. lor Lhe second Lype of analyses, aklsLan beLween 1947 and 2008 should be
LreaLed as one counLry. 1he soluLlon we found Lo be Lhe mosL flexlble ls Lhe followlng:

We follow Lhe CorrelaLes of War counLry code, slnce Lhls seems Lo be Lhe mosL
compleLe and wldely used counLry ldenLlfler avallable. We creaLe four addlLlonal
counLry codes (whlch do noL maLch any CCW counLry code):
o CCW asslgns one code Lo ?ugoslavla from 1946 Lhrough 2008. We conslder
LhaL ?ugoslavla (CCW = 343) sLopped exlsLlng ln 1991 and asslgn a new
counLry code Lo Serbla and MonLenegro (1991-2006) and Lo Serbla (2006-)
o CCW asslgns one code Lo Lhe uSS8/8ussla from 1946 Lhrough 2008. We
conslder LhaL Lhe uSS8 (CCW=363) sLopped exlsLlng ln 1991 and asslgn a new
code Lo 8ussla (1991-).
o CCW asslgns one number Lo vleLnam beLween 1934 and 2008 and anoLher
Lo SouLh vleLnam beLween 1934 and 1973. We asslgn dlfferenL codes for
SouLh vleLnam (1934-1976), norLh vleLnam (1934-1976) and vleLnam (1976-
presenL).

We do noL asslgn new counLry codes Lo counLrles LhaL experlenced changes ln Lhelr
LerrlLorles buL whlch remalned ln exlsLence afLer Lhe change. 1hese lnclude, for
lnsLance, aklsLan (wlLh Lhe creaLlon of 8angladesh ln 1971), Cyprus (wlLh Lhe
creaLlon" of 1urklsh Cyprus ln 1983, a counLry noL recognlzed as lndependenL - and
hence noL ln Lhls daLaseL - buL over whlch Lhe remalnlng" Cyprus does noL govern),
or LLhlopla (wlLh Lhe creaLlon of LrlLrea ln 1993). 1he varlable %,+ provldes a counLry
codlng LhaL LreaLs Lhese cases as separaLe counLrles.
#
We creaLe a varlable (%/B-"&&) LhaL flags Lhe counLrles LhaL galned or losL LerrlLory
slnce 1946. 1hls varlable ls coded 1 for all Lhe years Lhe counLry LhaL experlenced a
change ln LerrlLory appears ln Lhe daLaseL.

We also creaLe a varlable ((%/B-"&&) LhaL ls coded 1 ln Lhe year Lhe change ln Lhe
counLry's LerrlLory Look place.

We added Lo Lhe flle alLernaLlve counLry ldenLlflers Lo faclllLaLe merglng wlLh oLher
daLaseLs.

667 C:16:DA?E

$&+"&
SequenLlal numberlng of rows (1 Lhrough 9139)

%-&(*'#"
SLrlng counLry ldenLlfler.

("'&
Calendar year

'%F0%$+"
CounLry ldenLlfler (numerlc) used ln prevlous verslons of Lhe reglme classlflcaLlon
conLalned ln Lhls daLaseL (Lhe so-called ACL, u, eLc., daLabases). See Alvarez,
Chelbub, Llmongl, rzeworskl 1996, rzeworskl, Alvarez, Chelbub and Llmongl 2000, and
Chelbub 2007.

%$G%$+"
CorrelaLes of war (numerlc) counLry ldenLlfler.

%$G%$+"H
Modlfled correlaLes of war (numerlc) counLry ldenLlfler. See explanaLlon under
Crganlzlng Lhe World."

%%+%$+"F"-
1hree leLLer counLry code used by Lhe Cllne CenLer for uemocracy, unlverslLy of llllnols
aL urbana-Champalgn.

%%+%$+"*I#
numberlc counLry code used by Lhe Cllne CenLer for uemocracy, unlverslLy of llllnols aL
urbana-Champalgn.

'%F0("'&
ConcaLenaLlon of '%F0%$+" and ("'&.
$

%$G%$+"H("'&
ConcaLenaLlon of %$G%$+"H and ("'&.

%$G%$+"("'&
ConcaLenaLlon of %$G%$+" and ("'&.

%/B-"&&
uummy varlable coded 1 for 'FF -/" ("'&. of a counLry LhaL experlenced slgnlflcanL galns
or losses of LerrlLory, 0 oLherwlse.

(%/B-"&&
uummy varlable coded 1 for Lhe year ln whlch a counLry galned or losL slgnlflcanL parLs
of lLs LerrlLory, 0 oLherwlse.

JF'B%K%$G%$+"H
uummy varlable coded 1 for Lhe flrsL year a counLry (deflned by %$G%$+"H) ls observed
ln Lhe daLaseL, 0 oLherwlse.

JF'B"K%$G%$+"H
uummy varlable coded 1 for Lhe lasL year a counLry (deflned by %$G%$+"H) ls observed
ln Lhe daLaseL, 0 oLherwlse.

"*-&(
?ear Lhe counLry ls flrsL observed ln Lhe daLaseL (repeaLed for all years a counLry ls ln Lhe
daLaseL).

"L,-(
?ear Lhe counLry ls lasL observed ln Lhe daLaseL (repeaLed for all years a counLry ls ln Lhe
daLaseL).

%,+

G+,%$+"
Worl uevelopmenL lndlcaLors (sLrlng) counLry ldenLlfler.

,#JK%$+"
lnLernaLlonal MoneLary lund (numerlc) counLry ldenLlfler.

0$F,-(%$+"
CLl1? lv (numerlc) counLry ldenLlfler.

4'*5.%$+"
8anks (numerlc) counLry ldenLlfler.
%

+0,%$+"
ul (sLrlng) counLry ldenLlfler.

I*%$+"
unlLed naLlons (numerlc) counLry ldenLlfler.

I*K&"B,$*
unlLed naLlons (numerlc) geographlc reglon ldenLlfler.

I*K&"B,$*K*'#"
unlLed naLlons (sLrlng) geographlc reglon ldenLlfler.

I*K%$*-,*"*-
unlLed naLlons (sLrlng) conLlnenL ldenLlfler.

I*K%$*-,*"*-K*'#"
unlLed naLlons (numerlc) conLlnenL ldenLlfler.

'%F0K&"B,$*
Alvarez, Chelbub, Llmongl and rzeworskl (1996, 2000) (numerlc) reglon ldenLlfler.

4$&*("'&
?ear Lhe counLry ls flrsL ldenLlfled as such. [***needs work: compare dlfferenL sources]

"*+("'&
?ear Lhe counLry sLops belng ldenLlfled as such [***needs work]

"L."F"%
Mode of effecLlve execuLlve selecLlon (from 8anks Lo 2002, palnLed yellow ln Lhe excel
flle when modlfled, own codlng from 2003 on):
1. ulrecL elecLlon (elecLlon of Lhe effecLlve execuLlve by popular voLe or Lhe
elecLlon of commlLLed delegaLes for Lhe purpose of execuLlve selecLlon)
2. lndlrecL elecLlon (selecLlon of Lhe effecLlve execuLlve by an elecLed assembly or
by an elecLed buL uncommlLLed elecLoral college)
3. nonelecLlve (any means of execuLlve selecLlon noL lnvolvlng a dlrecL or lndlrecL
mandaLe from an elecLoraLe)

F"B."F"%
Mode of leglslaLlve selecLlon (from 8anks Lo 2002, palnLed yellow ln Lhe excel flle when
modlfled, own codlng from 2003 on):
0. no leglslaLure exlsLs (lncludes cases ln whlch Lhere ls a consLlLuenL assembly
wlLhouL ordlnary leglslaLlve powers)
&
1. non-elecLlve leglslaLure (examples lnclude Lhe selecLlon of leglslaLors by Lhe
effecLlve execuLlve, or on Lhe basls of heredlLy or ascrlpLlon)
2. LlecLlve (leglslaLors, or members of Lhe lower house ln a blcameral sysLem, are
selecLed by means of elLher dlrecL or lndlrecL popular elecLlon)

%F$."+
SLaLus of leglslaLure
0. LeglslaLure ls closed
1. LeglslaLure ls appolnLed
2. LeglslaLure ls elecLed

+"MI&"
Legal sLaLus of parLles
0. All parLles legally banned
1. Legally slngle parLy sLaLe
2. MulLlple parLles legally allowed

+"J'%-$
LxlsLence of parLles
0 = no parLles
1 = Cne parLy
2 = MulLlple parLles
n.8. We collecLed separaLe varlables for +"MI&" and +"J'%-$ sLaLus of parLles
because legal sLaLus alone ls noL always a good reflecLlon of emplrlcal reallLy.
8oLh +"MI&" and +"J'%-$ refer Lo exlsLence of parLles ln general, noL wheLher
Lhey have seaLs ln Lhe leglslaLure. lor Lhls lnformaLlon see F0'&-(.

+"J'%-$H
LxlsLence of parLles ouLslde of reglme fronL
0. no parLles
1. Cne parLy or mulLlple parLles, buL Lhey belong Lo reglme fronL
2. MulLlple parLles

F0'&-(
arLles wlLhln Lhe leglslaLure
0. LlLher no leglslaLure or all members of Lhe leglslaLure are nonparLlsan
1. LeglslaLure wlLh only members from Lhe reglme parLy
2. LeglslaLure wlLh mulLlple parLles
,*%I#4
ConsolldaLlon of lncumenL advanLage. uummy varlable coded 1 lf: (1) Lhe reglme year
quallfles as a democraLlc reglme and (2) someLlme durlng lLs currenL Lenure ln offlce Lhe
lncumbenLs (person, parLy, mlllLary hlerarchy) unconsLlLuLlonally closed Lhe lower house
of Lhe naLlonal leglslaLure and rewroLe Lhe rules ln Lhelr favor. 1he raLlonale for Lhls
varlable ls dlscussed ln rzeworskl eL al. (2000:20-22). We expand Lhe acLlon LhaL
'
characLerlzes consolldaLlon of lncumbenL advanLage Lo lnclude cases ln whlch Lhe
lncumbenL was flrsL elecLed ln mulLlparLy elecLlons buL, for whaLever reasons, Lhe
lncumbenL's Lerm was exLended and subsequenL elecLlons were posLponed (e.g., Angola
as of uecember 31, 2008).

-(0"H
uummy varlable coded 1 for Lhe cases excluded from Lhe seL of democracles unlquely
because Lhey vlolaLe Lhe alLernaLlon" rule, 0 oLherwlse. 1hese are Lhe cases LhaL would
be classlfled as democraLlc lf Lhe only crlLerla for democracy were mulLlparLy (dlrecL or
lndlrecL) execuLlve and leglslaLlve elecLlons. 1hls, however, as dlscussed ln rzeworskl eL
al (2000:23-29) and ln Chelbub, vreeland and Candhl (2009), ls noL sufflclenL Lo ldenLlfy
democracles. ln Lhe seL of reglmes LhaL hold mulLlparLy elecLlons, some do lL only
because Lhey know Lhe opposlLlon cannoL wln and oLhers because Lhe opposlLlon would
noL be allowed Lo assume offlce lf lL won. 1he dlfflculLy ls LhaL ln many cases Lhere ls no
hlsLorlcal evldence Lo allow Lhe observer Lo dlsLlngulsh Lhese cases. 1hus, lL ls posslble
LhaL we mlghL ldenLlfy as a democracy a case LhaL ls a real dlcLaLorshlp, or as a
dlcLaLorshlp a case LhaL ls a real democracy. 1he alLernaLlon rule, as well as Lhe presenL
varlable, ldenLlfles Lhe cases for whlch we do noL have sufflclenL lnformaLlon Lo declde,
accordlng Lo our rules, wheLher Lhe counLry ls a democracy or noL.
noLe on Lhe -(0"H name: A Lype l error ls a false poslLlve and a Lype ll error ls a
false negaLlve. ln Lhe orlglnal pro[ecL for whlch Lhls varlable was creaLed,
dlcLaLorshlps were coded 1 (poslLlve) and democracles 0 (negaLlve). 1he varlable
was named Lo lndlcaLe LhaL we had made a declslon Lo !"#$% '()* ++ errors by
codlng as dlcLaLorshlps cases LhaL mlghL have been a democracy (Lhus
commlLLlng '()* + errors). ln Lhe currenL conLexL, we Lhlnk of democracy as Lhe
poslLlve ouLcome and dlcLaLorshlp as Lhe negaLlve ouLcome. We should,
Lherefore, rename Lhe varlable '()*, error slnce we declded Lo coded posslble
democracles (real 1s) as dlcLaLorshlps (real 0s). ln Lhe end, lL does noL maLLer.
WhaL ls lmporLanL ls LhaL Lhls varlable can be used Lo easlly reclasslfy reglmes by
elLher conslderlng all cases coded as 1 ln '()*- as democracles or aLLempLlng Lo
dlscrlmlnaLe whlch ones are democracles and whlch ones are dlcLaLorshlps.

%$FF"%-
uummy varlable coded 1 when Lhe effecLlve head ls characLerlzed by collecLlve
leadershlp, 0 oLherwlse.

*/"'+.
number of changes ln Lhe nomlnal head of governmenL ln each year.

*#,F
uummy varlable coded 1 lf Lhe nomlnal head ls or ever was a member of Lhe mlllLary by
professlon, 0 lf clvlllan. noLe LhaL we code reLlred members of Lhe mlllLary as nMlL=1
slnce Lhe sheddlng of a unlform ls noL necessarlly enough Lo lndlcaLe Lhe clvlllan
characLer of a leader. Also noLe LhaL we do noL conslder rulers who come Lo power as
(
head of guerllla movemenLs as mlllLary. Source: Complled from 8elnen and van de
Walle (1991), 8eck eL al. (2000), 8anks (varlous years), ZaraLe (2001), LenLz (1994), and
varlous lnLerneL sources as marked.

*/"'+
name of Lhe nomlnal head of governmenL. Source: Complled from 8anks (varlous years),
8elnen and van de Walle (1991), 8ulers webslLe, ZaraLe (2001), and LenLz (1994).

*0$.-
ollLlcal LlLle of Lhe nomlnal head of governmenL. Source: Complled from 8anks (varlous
years), 8elnen and van de Walle (1991), 8ulers webslLe, ZaraLe (2001), and LenLz (1994).

*+'-"
uaLe of enLrance lnLo power of nomlnal head of governmenL. Source: Complled from
8anks (varlous years), 8elnen and van de Walle (1991), 8ulers webslLe, ZaraLe (2001),
and LenLz (1994).

"/"'+.
number of changes ln Lhe effecLlve head of governmenL ln each year

'B""/
Age of Lhe effecLlve head's spell ln offlce. 1here ls no lefL censorlng.

"#,F
uummy varlable coded 1 lf Lhe effecLlve head ls or ever was a member of Lhe mlllLary by
professlon, 0 lf clvlllan. noLe LhaL we code reLlred members of Lhe mlllLary as LMlL=1
slnce Lhe sheddlng of a unlform ls noL necessarlly enough Lo lndlcaLe Lhe clvlllan
characLer of a leader. Also noLe LhaL we do noL conslder rulers who come Lo power as
head of guerllla movemenLs as mlllLary. Source: Complled from 8elnen and van de
Walle (1991), 8eck eL al. (2000), 8anks (varlous years), ZaraLe (2001), LenLz (1994), and
varlous lnLerneL sources as marked.

&$('F
uummy varlable coded 1 lf Lhe effecLlve head ls of heredlLary royalLy, 0 oLherwlse. 1o
quallfy as royal, Lhe effecLlve head musL meeL 2 quallflcaLlons: 1) rule under a LlLle such
as klngs, emlrs, sulLans, and 2) have been preceded or succeeded by a relaLlve. arL 1)
means LhaL khama ln 8oLswana, MuLesa ln uganda, Souvanna houma ln Laos,
Mohammed uaud ln AfghanlsLan, and Slhanouk ln Cambodla do noL quallfy as monarchs
because Lhey abdlcaLed Lhelr places ln Lhe royal llne Lo rule as heads of republlcs. arL
2) means LhaL self-proclalmed royalLy such as 8okassa ln Lhe CenLral Afrlcan 8epubllc
are noL monarchs. Source: 8anks (varlous years), LenLz (1994).



)
/"'++,JJ
uummy varlable coded 1 lf Lhe effecLlve and nomlnal heads are dlfferenL people, 0
oLherwlse. Source: CreaLed from nPLAu and LPLAu.

"/"'+
name of Lhe effecLlve head of governmenL.
LffecLlve heads are: 1) presldenLs ln presldenLlal democracles, 2) prlme mlnlsLers ln
parllamenLary and mlxed democracles, excepL ln Lhe cases of u[ohar ln Comoros and
reval ln PalLl, 3) general-secreLarles of Lhe communlsL parLy ln communlsL
dlcLaLorshlps, excepL ln Lhe case of ueng xlaoplng ln Chlna, 4) klngs, presldenLs, and de
facLo rulers ln non-communlsL dlcLaLorshlps, excepL ln Lhe cases of Slngapore, Malaysla,
Cambodla, Laos, and Myanmar where Lhe effecLlve head ls someLlmes Lhe prlme
mlnlsLer, and 3) mlllLary or oLher flgure when sources lndlcaLe nomlnal head ls puppeL
flgure. lncluded are acLlng or provlslonal governmenLs, on Lhe assumpLlon LhaL one
cannoL dlsLlngulsh beLween cases ln whlch heads aLLempLed Lo consolldaLe power and
falled from cases ln whlch heads dld noL Lry Lo do so. noLe LhaL Lhls varlable, as all oLher
varlables wlLh names beglnnlng wlLh L," codes effecLlve rulers as opposed Lo nomlnal
ones. Source: Complled from 8anks (varlous years), 8elnen and van de Walle (1991),
8ulers webslLe, ZaraLe (2001), and LenLz (1994).

"0$.-
1lLle of Lhe effecLlve head of governmenL.
Source: Complled from 8anks (varlous years), 8elnen and van de Walle (1991), da Craca
(1983), 8ulers webslLe, ZaraLe (2001), and LenLz (1994).

"+'-"
uaLe of enLrance lnLo power of effecLlve head of governmenL.
Source: Complled from 8anks (varlous years), 8elnen and van de Walle (1991), da Craca
(1983), 8ulers webslLe, ZaraLe (2001), and LenLz (1994).

-"*I&"NO
1oLal number of years (up Lo and lncludlng Lhe year 2002) Lhe effecLlve head of
governmenL ls ln power. -"*I&" ls lnvarlanL durlng Lhe spell of each head.

%$##
uummy varlable coded 1 lf Lhe ruler ls Lhe CommunlsL arLy leader, 0 oLherwlse.
Source: 8anks (varlous years), LenLz (1994).

"%"*.NO
uummy varlable coded 0 for Lhe lasL year of an effecLlve head's Lenure due Lo deaLh or
for Lhe lasL year of effecLlve heads LhaL lasLed beyond Lhe Llme of Lhe lasL observaLlon,
usually 1996, and 1 oLherwlse. "%"*.NO = 0 for rulers who enLered as dlcLaLors and Lhen
leglLlmaLely won an elecLlon and became democraLs. Source: Complled from 8anks
*
(varlous years), 8elnen and van de Walle (1991), da Craca (1983), 8ulers webslLe, ZaraLe
(2001), and LenLz (1994).

"+"'-/
uummy varlable coded 0 for Lhe lasL year of Lhe effecLlve head's spell due Lo Lhe head's
deaLh and 1 oLherwlse. We do noL dlsLlngulsh beLween naLural deaLh, assasslnaLlon,
sulclde, and accldenLs. Source: 8anks' ollLlcal Pandbook, 8lenen and van de Walle
(1991), 8ulers webslLe, and ZaraLe (2001).

JF'B/
uummy varlable coded 1 for Lhe flrsL year an effecLlve head of governmenL ls flrsL
observed, 0 oLherwlse.

+"#$%&'%(
uummy varlable coded 1 lf Lhe reglme quallfles as democraLlc. 1he condlLlons for Lhls
varlable are Lhe followlng:
+"#$%&'%(=1 lf
"L."F"% <2 (and)
F"B."F"%=2 (and) %F$."+=2 (and)
+"MI&"=2 (and) +"J'%-$=2 (and) +"J'%-$H=2 (and) F0'&-(.- (and)
-(0"H=0 (and)
,*%I#4=0

'..%$*J,+
uummy varlable coded 1 lf Lhe reglme ls a democracy and Lhe governmenL ls sub[ecL Lo
assembly confldence, 0 oLherwlse. Assembly confldence refers Lo /#00*/'$"* cablneL
responslblllLy and musL lnclude Lhe head of governmenL. All cases ln whlch assembly
confldence ls expllclLly sLaLed ln Lhe consLlLuLlon are coded 1. Cases ln whlch assembly
confldence ls noL expllclLly sLaLed ln Lhe consLlLuLlon (l.e., lceland) or Lhere ls no
consLlLuLlon (l.e., Lngland) are lncluded when we observed aL leasL one lnsLance of
successful governmenL removal vla a parllamenLary voLe of no confldence slnce 1946.

0$00&"."F"%
uummy varlable coded 1 lf Lhe reglme ls a democracy and Lhe head of sLaLe ls chosen
vla popular elecLlon. noLe LhaL lL ls posslble LhaL a counLry wlll have no dlrecL
presldenLlal elecLlons, 0$00&"."F"%=0, and sLlll be presldenLlal. 1hese are Lhe cases ln
whlch presldenLs are lndlrecLly elecLed ("L."F"%=2)

&"B,#"
Slx-fold reglme classlflcaLlon
0. arllamenLary democracy
1. Mlxed (seml-presldenLlal) democracy
2. resldenLlal democracy
3. Clvlllan dlcLaLorshlp
"+
4. MlllLary dlcLaLorshlp
3. 8oyal dlcLaLorshlp

--
uummy varlable coded 1 when Lhere ls a LranslLlon Lo or from democracy, 0 oLherwlse.

--+
uummy varlable coded 1 when Lhere ls a LranslLlon Lo democracy, 0 oLherwlse.

--'
uummy varlable coded 1 when Lhere ls a LranslLlon Lo dlcLaLorshlp, 0 oLherwlse.

JF'B+"#
uummy varlable coded 1 for Lhe flrsL year a counLry ls observed or a new reglme (as
deflned by +"#$%&'%() emerges, 0 oLherwlse.

JF'B&"B
uummy varlable coded 1 for Lhe flrsL year a counLry ls observed or a new reglme (as
deflned by &"B,#") emerges, 0 oLherwlse.

'B"+"#
Age ln years of Lhe currenL reglme as classlfled by +"#$%&'%(. 1he year ln whlch Lhe
reglme comes lnLo exlsLence ls coded as 1. When appllcable, ages were exLended back
as far as 1870.

'B"&"B
Age ln years of Lhe currenL reglme as classlfled by &"B,#". 1he year ln whlch Lhe reglme
comes lnLo exlsLence ls coded as 1. When appllcable, ages were exLended back as far as
1870.

.-&'
Sum of pasL LranslLlons Lo auLhorlLarlanlsm ln a counLry. lf a counLry experlenced more
Lhan one LranslLlon Lo auLhorlLarlanlsm before 1946, S18A ls coded 1 ln 1946.