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Political clientelism and capture: theory and an application

Author

Listed:
  • Pranab Bardhan

    (University of California)

  • Dilip Mookherjee

    (Boston University)

Abstract

We develop a political economy model where political clientelism co-exists with elite capture and derive its implications for targeting of local government benefits. The model helps explain targeting impacts of gender and caste based political reservations in West Bengal local governments documented by previous empirical studies. We argue these targeting patterns cannot be explained by standard political economy models, or by the presence of either elite capture or clientelism in isolation.

Suggested Citation

  • Pranab Bardhan & Dilip Mookherjee, 2023. "Political clientelism and capture: theory and an application," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 17-34, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:inecre:v:58:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s41775-023-00169-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s41775-023-00169-w
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Clientelism; Elite capture; Service delivery; Government accountability; Political reservations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H42 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Publicly Provided Private Goods
    • H76 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Other Expenditure Categories
    • O23 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Fiscal and Monetary Policy in Development

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