{"product_id":"book-jvrc","title":"Elite Networks","description":"\u003ci\u003eElite Networks\u003c\/i\u003e presents a new explanatory factor behind the persistence of income inequality: extractive political power.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eElite networks are informal social networks between politicians in power and top executives of politically connected firms where personal ties and long-term interactions build trust and loyalty between involved actors. Both groups draw benefits from these interactions; politicians stay in power, and corporate executives extract rents for their firms. Firms reward connected executives with higher salaries thus widening the dispersion of earnings in society. In \u003ci\u003eElite Networks\u003c\/i\u003e, Vuk Vukovic offers a different perspective on the long-run origins of inequality. Calling upon historical arguments and direct empirical evidence, Vukovic argues that inequality is not an artifact of a particular economic system, but a man-made phenomenon rooted deeply within the, often violent, quest for political power. Further, he theoretically and empirically establishes the impact elite networks have on higher inequality. Offering a unique contribution to the field, this book argues that to lower inequality and prevent incentives of elite network formation, we must first and foremost lower centralized political power and re-empower the citizens and the community by rebuilding trust and relying on the democratic trial-and-error mechanism.","brand":"Ascent Audio","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49398812442928,"sku":"BDjvrc","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audio CD","offer_id":49398812377392,"sku":"ZEjvrc","price":55.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audio MP3-CD","offer_id":49398812410160,"sku":"ZMjvrc","price":59.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/jvrc-cover.jpg?v=1763032974","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-jvrc","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}