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This paper explores the linkages between democratisation and free trade. The paper hypothesises that democratisation involves transferring power from non-elected elites to the wider population, most of whom will be workers.

The Hecksher-Ohlin-Stolper-Samuelson logic says that democratisation should:

• lead to more liberal trade policies in countries where workers stand to gain from free trade
• to more protectionist policies in countries where workers will benefit from the imposition of tariffs and quotas.

This paper tests and confirms these political economy implications of trade theory hypothesis using data on democracy, factor endowments, and protection in the late nineteenth century.