Bootleggers and Baptists

Bootleggers and Baptists is a concept put forth by regulatory economist Bruce Yandle,^[1] derived from the observation that regulations are supported both by groups that want the ostensible purpose of the regulation, and by groups that profit from undermining that purpose.^[2]

For much of the 20th century, Baptists and other evangelical Christians were prominent in political activism for Sunday closing laws restricting the sale of alcohol. Bootleggers sold alcohol illegally, and got more business if legal sales were restricted.^[1] Yandle wrote that "Such a coalition makes it easier for politicians to favor both groups. ... the Baptists lower the costs of favor-seeking for the bootleggers, because politicians can pose as being motivated purely by the public interest even while they promote the interests of well-funded businesses. ... [Baptists] take the moral high ground, while the bootleggers persuade the politicians quietly, behind closed doors."^[3]

^ ^a ^b Yandle, Bruce (May–June 1983). "Bootleggers and Baptists: the education of a regulatory economist". Regulation. 7 (3): 12–16. Pdf. Archived 2016-04-13 at the Wayback Machine
See also: Yandle, Bruce (October 1999). "Bootleggers and Baptists in retrospect". Regulation. 22 (3): 5–7. Pdf. Archived 2012-10-03 at the Wayback Machine and Bootleggers and Baptists: How Economic Forces and Moral Persuasion Interact to Shape Regulatory Politics. Cato Institute. 2014. ISBN 978-1939709363.
^ McChesney, Fred S. (1997). Money for nothing: politicians, rent extraction, and political extortion. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674583306.
^ Yandle, Bruce; Buck, Stuart (14 August 2001). "Bruce, bootleggers, Baptists, and the global warming battle". SSRN. doi:10.2139/ssrn.279914. SSRN 279914.

[BB-1] Yandle, Bruce (May–June 1983). "Bootleggers and Baptists: the education of a regulatory economist". Regulation. 7 (3): 12–16. Pdf. Archived 2016-04-13 at the Wayback Machine
See also: Yandle, Bruce (October 1999). "Bootleggers and Baptists in retrospect". Regulation. 22 (3): 5–7. Pdf. Archived 2012-10-03 at the Wayback Machine and Bootleggers and Baptists: How Economic Forces and Moral Persuasion Interact to Shape Regulatory Politics. Cato Institute. 2014. ISBN 978-1939709363.

[2] McChesney, Fred S. (1997). Money for nothing: politicians, rent extraction, and political extortion. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674583306.

[GW-3] Yandle, Bruce; Buck, Stuart (14 August 2001). "Bruce, bootleggers, Baptists, and the global warming battle". SSRN. doi:10.2139/ssrn.279914. SSRN 279914.

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