Special Interest Groups and Economic Growth in the United States

摘要: Using a direct measure of special interest group (SIG) strength from Thomas and Hrebenar, I analyze the effects SIGs on economic growth across 48 contiguous US states. Hrebenar categorize in each state into five categories: dominant, dominant/complementary, complementary, complementary/subordinate, subordinate. find negative relationship between SIG supporting Olson. Holding everything else constant, rate median income over decade is almost 12 percentage points lower states which are dominant than it groups complementary/subordinate. The results robust to endogeneity strength.