Politicians’ motives in the rent seeking society

Outlines the theory of public choice (i.e. the equilibrium of a formal political model based on functions: not politicians) and identifies some reasons why US politicians may actually vote for rent seeking (“pork barrel”) projects. Suggests that they include the need for election, campaign contributions and financial or non‐financial (ideological) personal gain; and considers the implications for political reforms such as term limits, rules on campaign finance etc. Discusses how the motives of individual politicians can be discovered and some additional applications of this idea.