Aris Trantidis - Why Should We Care About Clientelism?

In this episode, Alex speaks with Aris Trantidis about his book Clientelism and why it matters for anyone concerned with democracy, public choice, and the modern state. Trantidis explains clientelism as a system of political exchange in which politicians trade targeted favours, contracts, regulation, and other private benefits for support, campaign resources, and loyalty - arguing that this dynamic is not a "bug" but a structural feature of politics that can distort markets and democracy. References Clientelism — Aris Trantidis https://www.cambridge.org/ca/universitypress/subjects/economics/economics-general-interest/clientelism?format=PB The Calculus of Consent - James M. Buchanan and Gordon Tullock https://a.co/d/0fslxBBZ The Logic of Collective Action - Mancur Olson https://a.co/d/06w0x507 The Selectorate Theory and International Politics - Bruce Bueno de Mesquita & Randolph M Siverson https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/62239/chapter-abstract/550747911?redirectedFrom=fulltext The Myth of the Rational Voter - Bryan Caplan https://a.co/d/0cufjmjt Thanks to Our Patrons Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support The Curious Task, visit: https://patreon.com/curioustask