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Extractive Institutions

Extractive institutions, as described by Daron Acemoglu, are economic and political arrangements that concentrate power and resources in the hands of a small elite or ruling class, often at the expense of the broader population. These institutions tend to stifle economic growth, discourage innovation and investment, and perpetuate inequality.

Here are some examples of extractive institutions:

  1. Dictatorships and Autocratic Regimes: Governments with authoritarian rule or one-party systems often maintain extractive institutions. Power is concentrated in the hands of a single ruler or a small group, allowing them to exploit resources and suppress political opposition. The ruling elite often uses state institutions to secure their wealth and privileges while restricting the economic and political rights of the general population.
  2. Crony Capitalism: Extractive institutions can manifest in the form of crony capitalism, where political connections and favoritism play a significant role in economic activities. In such systems, a select group of politically connected individuals or businesses receive preferential treatment, subsidies, and access to resources or markets. This distorts competition, hampers entrepreneurship, and reinforces economic inequality.
  3. Lack of Property Rights: In environments where property rights are poorly defined or insecure, extractive institutions can emerge. When individuals or businesses lack legal protection over their assets, it becomes difficult to invest, obtain credit, or reap the full benefits of their economic activities. This discourages entrepreneurship and long-term investment, hindering economic growth.
  4. Patronage Networks: Extractive institutions often involve the establishment of patronage networks, where political leaders distribute favors, positions, or resources to loyal supporters. These networks create a system of patron-client relationships, reinforcing the power of the ruling elite and creating barriers for others to access opportunities or compete on a level playing field.
  5. Rent-Seeking: Extractive institutions may enable rent-seeking behavior, where individuals or groups seek to obtain economic benefits through political influence rather than productive activities. This can involve lobbying for special privileges, monopolistic rights, or regulatory capture, all of which distort markets and hinder economic efficiency.
  6. Lack of Checks and Balances: Extractive institutions often lack effective checks and balances on political power. This allows rulers or elites to manipulate political and economic institutions to serve their interests, leading to corruption, abuse of power, and weak governance.

Extractive institutions tend to create a vicious cycle, as the ruling elite benefits from the status quo and has little incentive to reform the system to promote inclusive institutions and broader economic participation.

See also

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