. We develop a dynamic contest model of the potential competition between state (controlled by a ruler or a group of elites … leads to different types of steady states depending on initial conditions. One type of steady state, corresponding to a weak … state, emerges when civil society is strong relative to the state (e.g., having developed social norms limiting political …

We propose a model of the interplay of employment relationships and community-based interactions among workers and … workplace favor exchange). Both workers and managers also exert effort in providing community benefits. The threat of losing … access to community benefits can motivate managers to keep employment soft; conversely, the threat of losing future …

conduct an empirical investigation of the impact of one key set of institutions, the capacity of the US state as proxied by … the way in which the US created an immensely capable and effective state …

Lack of trust in state institutions, often due to poor service provision, is a pervasive problem in many developing … countries. If this increases reliance on non-state actors for crucial services, the resulting self-reinforcing cycle can further … weaken the state. This paper examines whether such a cycle can be disrupted. We focus on dispute resolution in rural Punjab …

While much research in political economy points out the benefits of "limited government," political scientists have … regulate the economy and to withstand the political and social challenges from non-state actors. I construct a model in which … the state apparatus is controlled by a self-interested ruler, who tries to divert resources for his own consumption, but …