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Clientelism and development: is there a poverty trap?

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  • Susan Stokes

Abstract

There are sound theoretical reasons to expect clientelism to suppress economic growth: politicians who garner support by offering employment to voters and grassroots party members can do so more effectively when the voters' participation constraint is met with low wages. Hence, clientelism can become a poverty trap. Yet in many countries, the heyday of political clientelism coincided with periods of rapid economic growth. I offer preliminary evidence of this coincidence of clientelism and economic growth in several OECD countries, at earlier stages of development.

Suggested Citation

  • Susan Stokes, 2021. "Clientelism and development: is there a poverty trap?," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-91, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2021-91
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hayami, Yujiro & Ogasawara, Junichi, 1999. "Changes in the Sources of Modern Economic Growth: Japan Compared with the United States," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, March.
    2. Kuo,Didi, 2018. "Clientelism, Capitalism, and Democracy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781108426084, October.
    3. Crafts,Nicholas & Toniolo,Gianni (ed.), 1996. "Economic Growth in Europe since 1945," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521499644, October.
    4. De La O,Ana Lorena, 2015. "Crafting Policies to End Poverty in Latin America," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107089488, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Troncone, Massimo, 2024. "Poverty, Competition, and Mass Patronage: Evidence from Southern Italy," OSF Preprints rgz9t, Center for Open Science.

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