Who is the enemy?

Gil S. Epstein, Ira N. Gang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examine who benefits when there is a strong leader in place, and who benefits when a situation lacks a proper leader. There are fractious terrorist groups who seek to serve the same people in common cause against a common enemy. The groups compete for rents obtained from the public by engaging in actions against the common enemy. We determine the leadership structure under which each group is better off, as well as the circumstance that the common enemy prefers. We are able to state simple and general conditions for each group and the common enemy to benefit.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)469-484
Number of pages16
JournalDefence and Peace Economics
Volume18
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2007

Keywords

  • All-pay auction
  • Lottery
  • Rent-seeking
  • Terrorism

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