infuence or bribe politicians, and when inequality and potential taxes are high (which makes redistribution more valuable to …, they are effectively accepting a certain amount of politician (presidential) rents in return for redistribution. We show …

?uence or bribe politicians, and when inequality and potential taxes are high (which makes redistribution more valuable to the …, they are e?ectively accepting a certain amount of politician (presidential) rents in return for redistribution. We show …

, however, which can explain why this redistribution often takes an inefficient form. In this paper we develop a theory of why … redistribution is made inefficiently. Inefficient redistribution makes staying in or entering a group relatively more attractive than … efficient methods of redistribution. The form of redistribution is therefore a tool to sustain political power in situations …

widespread social unrest and revolution. Political transition, rather than redistribution under existing political institutions … political equilibria and acts as a commitment to redistribution. Our theory also offers a novel explanation for the Kuznets … curve in many Western economies during this period, with the fall in inequality following redistribution due to …

relationship between inequality and redistribution is nonmonotonic; societies with intermediate levels of unequality consolidate … democracy and redistribute more than both very equal and very unequal countries. We also show that asset redistribution, such as …

redistributive taxes on producers, but tends to avoid entry barriers. When taxes in democracy are high and the distortions caused by … entry barriers are low, an oligarchic society achieves greater efficiency. Nevertheless, because comparative advantage in …

relationship between inequality and redistribution is nonmonotonic; societies with intermediate levels of inequality consolidate … democracy and redistribute more than both very equal and very unequal countries. We also show that asset redistribution, such as …

regime changes are often followed by redistribution to the poor at the expense of the former elite. We argue that the reason …