Have you noticed that virtually all male leaders – from elected prime ministers to murderous tyrants – wear a suit and tie these days? Whatever happened to juntas in military attire adorned with made-up medals or the classic Mao jacket?
My hunch is that dressing like a (male) chief executive brings a veneer of respectability to even the most despotic of dictators – pinstripe washing, if you will. And you know what they say, dress for the popular mandate you want, not the illegitimacy you have. It’s a similar deal with fiscal credibility.
