Elite Networks

Elite Networks is a groundbreaking book that delves deep into the roots of income inequality. Empirically and descriptively rich, the book elucidates how extractive political power drives this pervasive problem, unveiling the intricate web of informal relationships between politicians and influential corporate figures. The book's strength lies in its ability to connect the dots between intra-elite trust, loyalty, and the alarming income disparities we witness today. What sets the book apart is its bold assertion that income inequality is not an inherent feature of economic systems but a result of deliberate actions stemming from the quest for centralized political power. In a world grappling with inequality, this book challenges us to rethink our approach and offers a path toward a fairer society. Elite Networks is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of income inequality and a roadmap for meaningful change. * Josip Glaurdic, University of Luxembourg * Vuković's sweeping reimagining of the drivers of economic inequality introduces the notion of elite networks * informal social networks between political and economic leadersas a key mechanism behind the steady accumulation of wealth by small elites in almost all societies. Moving beyond explanation, he identifies concrete steps to advance economic equality through decentralizing reforms. A powerful, compelling combination of theory, history, and data analysis that should reshape how we understand the links between economic and political power.Jacob N. Shapiro, Princeton University * Elite Networks is a powerful and groundbreaking analysis of how privileged groups exploit their positions to secure economic resources. In this wide-ranging tour de force, Vuković shows how political influence pervades every aspect of our economy, underpinning the global rise in inequality. * Ben Ansell, University of Oxford, and author of Why Politics Fails * This is a supremely ambitious and provocative book. It offers a sweeping account of the sources of inequality across the world and attempts to uncover and document universal laws about capitalism, social and political organization, and the distribution of resources akin to Thomas Pikketty's Capital in the 21st Century. Deemphasizing the idea that market power or enduring competitive advantages are a symptom of the search for profits in the crucible of creative destruction, Vuković stresses that, even in the most innovative countries, corporations secure barriers to entry that engender entrenched class stratification. It therefore follows that sealed off elite networks are at the heart of modern, post Malthusian inequality everywhere, both in the developed and developing world. Whether you agree or not, this is a must read! * Victor Menaldo, University of Washington, and Co-founder of the UW Political Economy Forum *