Scholars have long hypothesized that democratic forms of government are more compatible with scientific advancement. However, empirical analysis testing the democracy-science compatibility hypothesis remains underdeveloped. This article explores the effect of democratic governance on scientific performance using panel data on 124 countries between 2007 and 2017. We find evidence supporting the democracy-science hypothesis. Further, using both internal and external measures of complexity, we estimate the effects of complexity as a moderating factor between the democracy-science connection. The results show differential main effects of economic complexity, globalization, and international collaboration on scientific performance, as well as significant interaction effects that moderate the effect of democracy on scientific performance. The findings show the significance of democratic governance and complex systems in national scientific performance.

翻译：学者们长期以来一直认为,民主形式的政府更符合科学进步,然而,检验民主-科学兼容性假设的经验分析仍然不够完善。本条利用2007年至2017年124个国家的小组数据探讨了民主施政对科学表现的影响。我们发现支持民主-科学假设的证据。此外,我们利用内部和外部的复杂度来估计复杂程度作为民主-科学联系之间调和因素的影响。结果显示经济复杂性、全球化和国际协作对科学表现的不同主要影响,以及减少民主对科学表现影响的重大互动效应。研究结果显示民主施政和复杂制度在国家科学表现中的重要性。