There was also an old political economy paper published lin the late 19th century I think, in a French journal. The English title is “The Chairman’s Problem”, IIRC—I never read it but it was mentioned by one of my professors. Basically discussing the challenges of voting cycles and agenda setting. It might be something you can find and was written by someone that was actually living with and dealing with a real political/governance problem hands on.
Gordon Tullock and Anne Krugueger are probably the correct starting point to get some insights to the concept of rent-seeking in political economy systems—govenrments.
And of course just reading the rule books for the various governments or parts of the government—for the US that would be looking at the Constitution and the rules governing internal processes for both the House and Senate. Parlimentary systems will have similar rules of governance.
Looking at the organizational charts likely also help—what are the committee structures and how does legislation flow through.
I think a lot of the above hits on the idea of gears-level models (and you can likely find good references to alternative perspectives if any of the above seem to slip into the area you hope to avoid). That said I’m not sure I would view political governance as truely having any gears. I think all the rules tend to become more like the Pirate’s Code in Piarates of the Caribbean: more like guidelines than hard and fast rule.
After checking them, it feels like most of your links are focused on an economic lens to politics and governance, or at least an economic bent. Does that seem correct?
And of course just reading the rule books for the various governments or parts of the government—for the US that would be looking at the Constitution and the rules governing internal processes for both the House and Senate. Parlimentary systems will have similar rules of governance.
Looking at the organizational charts likely also help—what are the committee structures and how does legislation flow through.
Yeah, ideally I would prefer to read an overview and model of these, but I agree that if it doesn’t exist, then reading the docs and charts is probably the simplest alternative.
That said I’m not sure I would view political governance as truely having any gears. I think all the rules tend to become more like the Pirate’s Code in Piarates of the Caribbean: more like guidelines than hard and fast rule.
I would guess that there are probably gears level model of how the governments actually work. Whether these are exactly the models provided in rules and guidelines, I’m not sure, but assuming not.
You might take a look at things like
Bucannan & Tullock The Caclulus of Consent
Sam Peltzmans Towards a more General Theory of Regulation
There was also an old political economy paper published lin the late 19th century I think, in a French journal. The English title is “The Chairman’s Problem”, IIRC—I never read it but it was mentioned by one of my professors. Basically discussing the challenges of voting cycles and agenda setting. It might be something you can find and was written by someone that was actually living with and dealing with a real political/governance problem hands on.
Gordon Tullock and Anne Krugueger are probably the correct starting point to get some insights to the concept of rent-seeking in political economy systems—govenrments.
And of course just reading the rule books for the various governments or parts of the government—for the US that would be looking at the Constitution and the rules governing internal processes for both the House and Senate. Parlimentary systems will have similar rules of governance.
Looking at the organizational charts likely also help—what are the committee structures and how does legislation flow through.
I think a lot of the above hits on the idea of gears-level models (and you can likely find good references to alternative perspectives if any of the above seem to slip into the area you hope to avoid). That said I’m not sure I would view political governance as truely having any gears. I think all the rules tend to become more like the Pirate’s Code in Piarates of the Caribbean: more like guidelines than hard and fast rule.
Thanks!
After checking them, it feels like most of your links are focused on an economic lens to politics and governance, or at least an economic bent. Does that seem correct?
Yeah, ideally I would prefer to read an overview and model of these, but I agree that if it doesn’t exist, then reading the docs and charts is probably the simplest alternative.
I would guess that there are probably gears level model of how the governments actually work. Whether these are exactly the models provided in rules and guidelines, I’m not sure, but assuming not.