The DOI matches its Crossref record; 48 of the 48 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
“Plata o Plomo?”:Bribe and Punishment in a Theory of Political Influence
Abstract
We present a model where groups attempt to influence policies using both bribes (plata, Spanish for silver) and the threat of punishment (plomo, Spanish for lead). We then use it to make predictions about the quality of a country's public officials and to understand the role of institutions granting politicians with immunity from legal prosecution. The use of punishment lowers the returns from public office and reduces the incentives of high-ability citizens to enter public life. Cheaper plomo and more resources subject to official discretion are associated with more frequent corruption and less able politicians. This predicts that violence in a country will typically go together with corruption and worse politicians. Moreover, the possibility of punishment changes the nature of the influence game, so that even cheaper plata can lower the ability of public officials. Protecting officials from accusations of corruption (immunity) will decrease the frequency of corruption if the judiciary is weak and may increase the quality of politicians. These predictions cannot emerge from a traditional model where only bribes are used.
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Cites
The Theory of Economic Regulation
Stigler, G. J. (1971) · The Bell Journal of Economics and Management Science · doi:10.2307/3003160 · Cited by 8,098
The Theory of Economic Regulation
Stigler, G. J. (2021) · The Political Economy · doi:10.4324/9781315495811-8 · Cited by 5,483
The Political Economy of the Rent-Seeking Society
Krueger, A. O. (2008) · 40 Years of Research on Rent Seeking 2 · doi:10.1007/978-3-540-79247-5_8 · Cited by 5,272
Toward a More General Theory of Regulation
Peltzman, S. (1976) · The Journal of Law and Economics · doi:10.1086/466865 · Cited by 4,729
A Theory of Competition Among Pressure Groups for Political Influence
Becker, G. S. (1983) · The Quarterly Journal of Economics · doi:10.2307/1886017 · Cited by 4,117
Grossman, G. M., & Helpman, E. (2008) · 40 Years of Research on Rent Seeking 2 · doi:10.1007/978-3-540-79247-5_7 · Cited by 3,302
A Theory of Incentives in Procurement and Regulation
Jean Tirole, Z., & Laffont, J. (1993) · Toulouse Capitole Publications (University Toulouse 1 Capitole) · Cited by 3,154
The Allocation of Talent: Implications for Growth
Murphy, K. M., Shleifer, A., & Vishny, R. W. (1991) · The Quarterly Journal of Economics · doi:10.2307/2937945 · Cited by 2,092
Rents, Competition, and Corruption
Ades, A., & Di Tella, R. (1999) · American Economic Review · doi:10.1257/aer.89.4.982 · Cited by 1,763
Self-citationThe Political Economy of Benefits and Costs: A Neoclassical Approach to Distributive Politics
Weingast, B. R., Shepsle, K. A., & Johnsen, C. (1981) · Journal of Political Economy · doi:10.1086/260997 · Cited by 1,736
Cited by
MPs for Sale? Returns to Office in Postwar British Politics
EGGERS, A. C., & HAINMUELLER, J. (2009) · American Political Science Review · doi:10.1017/s0003055409990190 · Cited by 318
Motivating Politicians: The Impacts of Monetary Incentives on Quality and Performance
Ferraz, C., & Finan, F. (2009) · National Bureau of Economic Research · doi:10.3386/w14906 · Cited by 290
Drugs, Violence, and State-Sponsored Protection Rackets in Mexico and Colombia
Snyder, R., & Durán Martínez, A. (2009) · Colombia Internacional · doi:10.7440/colombiaint70.2009.03 · Cited by 49
Metadata
- Authors
- DAL BÓ, E., DAL BÓ, P., & DI TELLA, R.
- Venue
- American Political Science Review
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2006-02
- Volume
- 100
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 41-53
- ISSN
- 0003-0554 (ISSN-L)
- 1537-5943
- OpenAlex
- W2120905484
- Cited by
- 264
- References
- 48
- FWCI
- 26.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
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