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Interest Groups, Transfer Seeking and Democratization: Competition for the Benefits of Governmental Power May Explain African Political Instability

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  • Mwangi S. Kimenyi

Abstract

. The effect of permanent interest group transfer‐seeking behavior on the degree of democratization is examined, Each permanent interest group is viewed as attempting to maximize its share of wealth transfers through the political process. To maximize the share of transfers, each group undertakes competitive strategies to control the instruments of transfers. Such competition is more intense the larger the number of permanent interest groups in a given country, and the higher the likelihood that the competition would involve non‐democratic means to achieve and maintain control of the political machinery in those countries. It is predicted that the more intense the competition for transfers, which is a direct function of the number of permanent interest groups in any given country, the less democratic the system of government in that country is likely to be. This prediction is supported empirically using cross‐sectional data for 65 countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Mwangi S. Kimenyi, 1989. "Interest Groups, Transfer Seeking and Democratization: Competition for the Benefits of Governmental Power May Explain African Political Instability," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(3), pages 339-349, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ajecsc:v:48:y:1989:i:3:p:339-349
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1536-7150.1989.tb03186.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wayne Brough & Mwangi Kimenyi, 1986. "On the inefficient extraction of rents by dictators," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 37-48, January.
    2. George J. Stigler, 1971. "The Theory of Economic Regulation," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 2(1), pages 3-21, Spring.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mwangi S. Kimenyi, 2006. "Ethnicity, Governance and the Provision of Public Goods," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 15(1), pages 62-99, April.
    2. Kimenyi, Mwangi S. & Mbaku, John Mukum, 1996. "Rents, military elites, and political democracy," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 699-708, April.
    3. Mwangi S. Kimenyi, 2006. "The Demand for Power Diffusion: A Case Study of the 2005 Constitutional Referendum Voting in Kenya," Working papers 2006-11, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
    4. Alexander Galetovic & Ricardo Sanhueza, 1996. "Citizens, Autocrats, and Plotters: A Model and New Evidence on Coups D'État," Documentos de Trabajo 11, Centro de Economía Aplicada, Universidad de Chile.

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