Can (old) institutionalism help us to understand political clientelism?

Leuven

Workshop; Workshop Centre of Economics and Ethics; 2008

Catholic University of Leuven

The literature on political clientelism has experienced a revival during the last decade. It is a paradox that, whilst economic methods are being applied to the study of clientelism, very little has been said about the deep economic causes and consequences of clientelistic practices. The main objective of this paper is to show that the conceptual tools offered by (old) institutional economics can help to clarify the situation. Indeed, by conceptualising clientelism as an institution, it is possible to make sense of many of the different features associated with this phenomenon. In addition, understanding clientelism along the lines proposed by old institutionalism can lead us to ponder about the purposes or functions of such an institution.