... connections based on hiring (for instance) a legislator’s chief of staff. In a model of lobbying access, both types of connections would serve to reduce transaction costs around subsidy or informational lobbying. Additionally, the research that does look at political connections in lobbying examines them...

...John S. Earle; Solomiya Shpak; Anton Shirikov; Scott Gehlbach* We examine the use of proxies, shell companies, and offshore firms to defend property against seizure by private and state actors. Our theoretical framework emphasizes the role of political connections in defensive ownership. Linking...

...Amanda Lea Robinson; Brigitte Seim Corrupt government officials must weigh the potential costs and benefits of soliciting a bribe using limited information about a citizen’s ability to pay but also to punish. We conduct a field experiment in Malawi to determine the effects of political connections...