Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/90118 
Year of Publication: 
2013
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 7795
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
The instability and informality that characterize hybrid political orders and its effects on entrepreneurs remains largely unexplored in the scholarly literatures. In this paper we provide initial findings from the case of entrepreneurs' access to electricity in Lebanon. Using quantitative and qualitative methods we find that political connections significantly influence the investment decisions of entrepreneurs and the performance of their firms. In general, a hybrid political order imposes a 'tax' on entrepreneurship by channelling entrepreneurial talent into lobbying and bribery; by reinforcing male and family-owned dominance in business; and by skewing investment decisions. Specifically, we find that family firms whose entrepreneurs engage in bribery, and who obtain government contracts alleviate electricity problems and perform better.
Subjects: 
entrepreneurship
development
political economy
electricity
infrastructure
Middle East
Lebanon
hybrid political order
JEL: 
L26
M48
O17
O53
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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