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Politics and the Pursuit of Fame

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  • Cowen, Tyler
  • Sutter, Daniel

Abstract

Humans strive after fame, especially in politics. The authors construct a model in which the executive is motivated by fame as well as the desire to hold office. The fame of an executive is based on his or her achievements relative to all prior executives. Periods of great uncertainty for a nation make politicians more likely to pursue fame rather than reelection. The authors show that fame incentives weaken as a country ages. If politicians are wiser than the median voter, then the pursuit of fame by politicians improves welfare and the diminution of fame incentives over time causes national decline. Copyright 1997 by Kluwer Academic Publishers

Suggested Citation

  • Cowen, Tyler & Sutter, Daniel, 1997. "Politics and the Pursuit of Fame," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 93(1-2), pages 19-35, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:93:y:1997:i:1-2:p:19-35
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Jiaqi & Liu, Jicai & Bu, Zehui & Zhou, Yining & He, Peifen, 2022. "Path analysis of influencing government's excessive behavior in PPP project: Based on field dynamic theory," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 522-540.
    2. Juan Pablo Couyoumdjian, 2008. "An Expert at Work: Revisiting Jeremy Bentham's Proposals on Codification," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(4), pages 503-519, November.
    3. Cowen, Tyler & Glazer, Amihai, 2007. "Esteem and ignorance," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 63(3), pages 373-383, July.
    4. David M. Levy & Dalibor Roháč, 2009. "Praiseworthiness and Endogenous Growth," Prague Economic Papers, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2009(3), pages 220-234.
    5. Christopher J. Coyne & Peter T. Leeson, 2008. "How Do Rulers Choose? Dual Domains of Discretion in Political Decision Making," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(3), pages 727-743, September.

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