rent-seekers
Unproductive wealth extractors
Rent-seekers are individuals or entities that pursue wealth through manipulation of economic or political environments rather than through productive activity.
The term comes from economics, where "rent" means income gained without contributing value—lobbying for favorable regulations, exploiting monopoly positions, or securing government contracts through connections rather than merit.
The pharmaceutical industry's rent-seekers spent millions on lobbying to extend patent protections.
The word carries strong disapproval, implying parasitic behavior that extracts rather than creates.
Act of removing
- extractiveRemoving natural resources
- rentierLives on investment income
- misallocationImproper distribution of resources
- distortionTwisting from original state
market power · barrier to entry · monopoly power · arbitrage · protectionism · tariff · subsidy · quota
Wealthy few who govern
- plutocracyRule by the rich
- entitlementAssumed right to benefits
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- gatekeepersThose controlling entry
powerbrokers · kingmakers · insiders · connected · aristocracy · dynasty · favoritism · clout
Factors blocking market access
- oligopolyFew firms dominate market
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- market powerControl over transaction terms
patents · exclusive · antitrust · collusion · incumbent · predatory pricing · duopoly · conglomerate
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- extortionObtaining through threats
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
cronyism · nepotism · influence peddling · payola · racketeering · backdoor deals · under-the-table · sleaze
Power to affect others
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- super PACUnlimited-donation political organization
- political action committeeOrganization funding electoral campaigns
interest group · legislation · coalition · petition · congressional · hearing · testimony · amendment
extraction
Act of removing
- extractiveRemoving natural resources
- rentierLives on investment income
- misallocationImproper distribution of resources
distortion · market power · barrier to entry · monopoly power · arbitrage · protectionism · tariff · subsidy · quota · price control
oligarchs
Wealthy few who govern
- plutocracyRule by the rich
- entitlementAssumed right to benefits
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
gatekeepers · powerbrokers · kingmakers · insiders · connected · aristocracy · dynasty · favoritism · clout · access
barriers to entry
Factors blocking market access
- oligopolyFew firms dominate market
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
market power · patents · exclusive · antitrust · collusion · incumbent · predatory pricing · duopoly · conglomerate · market concentration
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
embezzlement · cronyism · nepotism · influence peddling · payola · racketeering · backdoor deals · under-the-table · sleaze · scandal
influence
Power to affect others
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- super PACUnlimited-donation political organization
political action committee · interest group · legislation · coalition · petition · congressional · hearing · testimony · amendment · revolving door
rent-seekersentrepreneurs
Those who launch ventures
innovators · producers · inventors · disruptors · builders
rent-seekerspublic servants
Government-employed workers
philanthropists · benefactors · social entrepreneurs · altruists · stewards
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