Regulation and state capacity

Area of Science:

• Political Science
• Sociology
• African Studies

Background:

• Conventional wisdom suggests low-capacity states regulate less than high-capacity states.
• Evidence challenges this, raising concerns about potential rent-seeking behavior.
• The regulation of witchcraft in Africa provides a case study for examining state capacity and regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model conditions where low-capacity states enact regulations without rent-seeking.
• To explore regulation as a substitute for core state functions.
• To analyze implications for state formation and neo-patrimonialism.

Main Methods:

• Informal modeling using the example of witchcraft regulation in parts of Africa.
• Analysis of regulatory behavior in states with varying capacities.
• Comparative analysis with regulation of offensive speech.

Main Results:

• States with low capacity may promulgate regulations even without rent-seeking interests.
• Regulation can serve as a substitute for essential state functions like policing.
• This regulatory activity may paradoxically enhance state capacity over time.

Conclusions:

• The findings challenge assumptions about rent-seeking and neo-patrimonialism in low-capacity states.
• Regulation can be a mechanism for state formation and capacity building.
• Parallels exist between witchcraft regulation and the regulation of offensive speech.