Sistem demokrasi dianggap menjadi dasar untuk mencapai kemajuan ekonomi, yang membawa implikasi langsung pada ketebukaan perdagangan. Namun, tak sedikit yang menganggap demokrasi  memborgol perdagangan. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui apakah demokrasi memiliki dampak bagi perdagangan di negara berpendapatan menengah dan tinggi di Asia. Penelitian ini berfokus pada 11 negara di Asia yang dibagi berdasarkan negara pendapatan tinggi dan menengah periode 2009 hingga 2018. Menggunakan model regresi data panel, hasil penelitian menemukan variabel interaksi demokrasi dan negara di Asia berpengaruh terhadap perdagangan. Namun, ditemukan bahwa perdagangan di negara pendapatan tinggi tidak terpengaruh demokrasi, sedangkan perdagangan di negara berpendapatan rendah sangat dipengaruhi demokrasi.

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Economic progress is expected to go hand in hand with the establishment of the country's democratic system. However, there are those who consider democracy to 'handcuff' trade. This study aims to determine whether democracy has an impact on trade in the middle and high income countries in Asia. This study focuses on 11 countries in Asia which are divided by high-income and middle-income countries from 2009 to 2018.

Using panel data regression method, the results of the study found that the interaction between democracy and countries in Asia influences trade. However, it was found that trade in high-income countries was not affected by democracy, whereas trade in low-income countries was strongly influenced by democracy.