10.7910/DVN/GNGJQRDahlum, SirianneSirianneDahlumDepartment of Political Science, University of OsloKnutsen, Carl HenrikCarl HenrikKnutsenUniversity of OsloHarvard Dataverse2017Social SciencesDahlum, SirianneDepartment of Political Science, University of Oslo2015-08-022017-04-1877947110141216395314165682549701text/plaintext/tab-separated-valuestext/plainapplication/x-stata-13text/tab-separated-values1.0CC0 1.0The notion that cultural characterics influence political regimes remains popular, despite mixedsupporting evidence. In particular, democracy is argued to emerge and thrive in countries where liberal or freedom-oriented values (so-called self-expression values) are widespread. Inglehart and Welzel (2005), for instance, report such an effect, mainly drawing inferences from cross-country comparisons. Yet, cross-country correlations between self-expression values and democracy could stem from different processes. Reinvestigating this relationship, we find no empirical support when employing models accounting for sample-selection bias, country-specific effects, and the endogeneity of values to democracy. Self-expression values do not enhance democracy levels or democratization chances, and neither do they stabilize existing democracies. In contrast, we find indications that a country’s experience with democracy enhances self-expression values.