Industry influence and agency decision making: Evidence from USAID
Vincent Smith and
Philip Hoxie
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Vincent Smith: American Enterprise Institute
Philip Hoxie: American Enterprise Institute
AEI Economics Working Papers from American Enterprise Institute
Abstract:
This paper examines the avenues interest groups use to influence procurement decisions that are subject to legislative constraints that conflict with the provision of the government service or goods, such as "Buy American Laws." We first explore a theoretical model in which the government agency can value service of the interest group and fulfilment of its procurement. We then examine the implications of this theoretical model empirically using data on the US Agency for International Development's Title II Emergency Food Aid program for the shipment of packaged goods to low income countries facing humanitarian crises. We find that USAID, which is subject to a type of "Buy American Law" called cargo preference when allocating food aid, at times over-complies with the mandate. We then use an empirical approach to gain insights into how USAID makes allocation decisions in accordance with its compliance with the mandate throughout the fiscal year.
Keywords: Industrial Policy; Mercantile Policy; Trade Policy; United States Agency For International Development (USAID) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-09
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aei:rpaper:1008611318
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