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 …

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 … who can also invest in socially productive public goods. Both weak and strong states create distortions. When the state is …

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 … who can also invest in socially productive public goods. Both weak and strong states create distortions. When the state is …