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The Opec Boys and the political economy of smuggling in northern Uganda

Author

Listed:
  • Els Lecoutere

    (Ghent University)

  • Kristof Titeca

    (Ghent University)

Abstract

In this article, we unearth the institution for enforcement of the agreement between the Opec Boys, fuel smugglers and ex-rebels, and a politician, who allows them to conduct illegal smuggling. Rather than the Opec Boys� threat of rebellion, their promise of political support and refraining from civil disorder matters to inflict cooperation. A repeated play mechanism where the players punish each other for defection but return to cooperation makes up the �rules of the game�. Uncovering this endogenously emerged institution for contract enforcement explicitly reveals the importance of political alliances in the second economy in a fragile state environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Els Lecoutere & Kristof Titeca, 2007. "The Opec Boys and the political economy of smuggling in northern Uganda," HiCN Working Papers 36, Households in Conflict Network.
    • Handle: RePEc:hic:wpaper:36
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    File URL: https://hicn.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/HiCN-WP-36.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Gilberto Gonz'alez-Parra & Benito Chen-Charpentier & Abraham J. Arenas & Miguel Diaz-Rodriguez, 2015. "Mathematical modeling of physical capital using the spatial Solow model," Papers 1504.04388, arXiv.org.
    2. Titeca, Kristof & Vervisch, Thomas, 2008. "The Dynamics of Social Capital and Community Associations in Uganda: Linking Capital and its Consequences," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 36(11), pages 2205-2222, November.

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