In an earlier work [Zusman and Rausser (1990a)], we expounded a descriptive integrated theory of a political-economy. As is generally the case, the motivations for developing the theory were: (a) to provide a general explanation of the working of a political-economy and (b) to provide a...

Commodity markets are characterized by trade in standardized, undifferentiated commodities and numerous traders. Consequently, such markets are highly competitive and trade is carried out in concentrated, low transaction cost exchanges. In this sense, commodity markets are the closest...

Models of economic systems involving government intervention by definition include some policy variables, or policy instruments, through which the policy in implemented. In general, economists have tended to view these variables as exogenously given. While convenient in dealing with some...

Collective action, although often superior to anarchy, tends to be socially suboptimal even when the proclivity of free riders to defect is fully controlled and an organization for collective action is set up. An effective organization for collective action involving many participants will...

Available evidence taken from the experience of many countries strongly suggests that bad governments and institutions have been serious, if not the most serious, obstacle to economic growth; and all public sectors pursue a mix of both predatory and productive activities—bad governments...