arrow
Return

Why Some Persistent Problems Persist

delete2019-07-25
delete10
PRE
AI
R
Robert Powell *
DOI:10.1017/S0003055419000364delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Recent work on counter-insurgency, client states, foreign aid, and proxy wars uses a principal-agent framework to study the principal's ability to induce an agent to exert effort on the principal's behalf. This work broadly emphasizes the moral hazard problem and the actors' limited commitment power. The latter is usually addressed through the logic of repeated games in which reneging on an agreement triggers future punishment. This study analyzes a related incentive problem that undermines the principal's ability to induce an agent to exert effort on its behalf. The repeated-game's enforcement mechanismtends to breakdownif the principal is trying to get the agent to resolve a problem that, if resolved, (i) creates an ongoing problem for the agent and (ii) simultaneously significantly reduces the agent's ability to impose future costs on the principal. The principal cannot induce the agent to exert much effort in these circumstances, and the problem persists.
AI Summary

AI Summary

Key information extracted from the uploaded paper, including a brief overview, abstract, background, key highlights, visual analysis, and future outlook.

Journal

American Political Science Review cover
American Political Science Review
IF:
5.8
Papers:
8.7K
Citations:
2.1W

Organization

University of California System cover
University of California System
Scholars:
37.5W
Papers: 33.7W
Citations: 6.6K