The Political Economy of Rent-Seeking

  • Charles K. Rowley
  • Robert D. Tollison
  • Gordon Tullock

Part of the Topics in Regulatory Economics and Policy book series (TREP, volume 1)

Table of contents

  1. Front Matter
    Pages i-xvi
  2. Perspectives

    1. Front Matter
      Pages 1-1
    2. Charles K. Rowley, Gordon Tullock
      Pages 3-13
    3. Michael A. Brooks, Ben J. Heijdra
      Pages 27-49
    4. Gordon Tullock
      Pages 51-62
  3. Theoretical Developments

    1. Front Matter
      Pages 63-63
    2. Arye L. Hillman, Eliakim Katz
      Pages 81-90
    3. Gordon Tullock
      Pages 91-94
    4. William J. Corcoran, Gordon V. Karels
      Pages 107-126
    5. Richard S. Higgins, William F. Shughart II, Robert D. Tollison
      Pages 127-139
    6. Gordon Tullock
      Pages 141-146
    7. Richard S. Higgins, Robert D. Tollison
      Pages 147-157
  4. Applications

    1. Front Matter
      Pages 159-159
    2. Regulation

      1. Michael A. Crew, Charles K. Rowley
        Pages 163-178
    3. International Trade

      1. Gary M. Anderson, Robert D. Tollison
        Pages 199-215
      2. Charles K. Rowley, Robert D. Tollison
        Pages 217-237
    4. Political Markets

      1. W. Mark Crain, William F. Shughart II, Robert D. Tollison
        Pages 241-249
      2. Roger D. Congleton
        Pages 251-265
      3. Gordon Tullock
        Pages 291-297
      4. Gordon Tullock
        Pages 299-311
    5. The Firm

      1. Roger L. Faith, Richard S. Higgins, Robert D. Tollison
        Pages 315-335
    6. Taxation

      1. Dwight R. Lee, Robert D. Tollison
        Pages 339-350
    7. The Environment

      1. Terry L. Anderson, Peter J. Hill
        Pages 371-388
    8. The Law and Legal Evolution

      1. William F. Shughart II, Robert D. Tollison
        Pages 391-407
  5. Toward Tomorrow

    1. Front Matter
      Pages 421-421
    2. Charles K. Rowley
      Pages 447-464
    3. Gordon Tullock
      Pages 465-480
  6. Back Matter
    Pages 481-492

About this book


It is now twenty years since the concept of rent-seeking was first devised by Gordon Tullock, though he was not responsible for coining the phrase itself. His initial insight has burgeoned over two decades into a major research program which has had an impact not only on public choice, but also on the related disciplines of economics, political science, and law and economics. The reach of the insight has proved to be universal, with relevance not just for the democracies, but also, and arguably more important, for all forms of autocracy, irrespective of ideological com­ plexion. It is not surprising, therefore, that this volume is the third edited publication dedicated specifically to scholarship into rent-seeking behavior. The theory of rent-seeking bridges normative and positive analyses of state action. In its normative dimension, rent-seeking scholarship has expanded, enlivened, in some respects turned on its head, the traditional welfare analyses of such features of modern economics as monopoly, externalities, public goods, and trade protection devices. In its positive dimension, rent-seeking contributions have provided an important analy­ tical perspective from which to understand and to predict the behavior of politicians, interest groups and bureaucrats, the media and the academy within the political market place. This bridge between normative and positive elements of analysis is invaluable in facilitating an understanding of and evaluating the costs of state activity within a consistent paradigm.   


deregulation economic theory political economy pollution public goods taxation welfare

Editors and affiliations

  • Charles K. Rowley
    • 1
  • Robert D. Tollison
    • 1
  • Gordon Tullock
    • 1
  1. 1.Center for Study of Public ChoiceGeorge Mason UniversityUSA

Bibliographic information