So, Franco et al found that people living in democracies enjoy better health than those who must endure repressive regimes.1 That's good to know—at least for those fortunate enough to live in freedom. But, in a perverse kind of way, I cannot help thinking that it would have been more interesting if things had been the other way around. Suppose it turned out that one had to pay a price, in terms of health, for the privilege of living in an electoral democracy. It would certainly have given us cause to reflect on the value we place on our rights and institutions.

As a thought experiment, imagine that you are a participant in one of those time trade-off investigations that health economists use to determine the utility of different states of health. Ask yourself how many years of life you would be prepared to sacrifice to gain a …