Please choose TWO of the four topics below and provide a 1-2 page discussion for each topic. Support your stance with information in the reading material and one peer reviewed academic journal article. Post your response and comment on two peer postings. You must participate three days this week.

1. A democratic political system is an essential condition for sustained economic progress. Agree or Disagree (Support your stance)
2. What is the relationship between corruption in a country (i.e. government officials taking bribes) and economic growth? Is corruption always bad?
3. Why has democracy spread during the past 30 years?
4. How does geography and education influence economic development?