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Do Foreign Gifts Buy Corporate Political Action? Evidence from the Saudi Crude Discount Program

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  • Jennifer R. Peck

Abstract

Between 1991 and 2003, Saudi Aramco sold crude to U.S. refineries at a substantial discount, with a total cost of approximately 8.5 billion dollars. This paper assesses the incidence of these discount rents in the U.S. market and yields the first empirical evidence for the use of oil as a tool of political leverage through transfers to American firms. Using panel variation in discount receipts, I find that rents were captured by refiners as profits. Discounts were also associated with increases in refiners’ political donations and strategic reallocations of these contributions.

Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer R. Peck, 2021. "Do Foreign Gifts Buy Corporate Political Action? Evidence from the Saudi Crude Discount Program," The Energy Journal, , vol. 42(3), pages 71-112, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:enejou:v:42:y:2021:i:3:p:71-112
    DOI: 10.5547/01956574.42.3.jpec
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:aen:journl:ej35-1-02 is not listed on IDEAS
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    3. Fink, Jason D. & Fink, Kristin E. & Russell, Allison, 2010. "When and how do tropical storms affect markets? The case of refined petroleum," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 1283-1290, November.
    4. Jürgen Huber & Michael Kirchler, 2013. "Corporate campaign contributions and abnormal stock returns after presidential elections," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 156(1), pages 285-307, July.
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