Erica Frantz

Researchers have done studies on Russian legislators and tried to measure corruption among those individuals, and they have been able to identify a disconnect between what the salaries are of those legislators and the types of cars that they're driving. So we have more solid evidence that there is private gain happening among these individuals in these public posts.

Researchers have done studies on Russian legislators and tried to measure corruption among those individuals, and they have been able to identify a disconnect between what the salaries are of those legislators and the types of cars that they're driving. So we have more solid evidence that there is private gain happening among these individuals in these public posts.

These corrupt legislators that are driving the fancy cars in Russia are less likely to show up to vote for individual policies and more likely to support regime legislation. But, you know, there isn't a ton of research that has looked at some of the synergies that you're talking about with political the ways in which backsliding elites have aligned with the business community.

These corrupt legislators that are driving the fancy cars in Russia are less likely to show up to vote for individual policies and more likely to support regime legislation. But, you know, there isn't a ton of research that has looked at some of the synergies that you're talking about with political the ways in which backsliding elites have aligned with the business community.

We do know that in existing authoritarian contexts like Hungary and Russia, that leaders are able to build these really close linkages with elites in the business community, often through corruption, that can be helpful for these regimes. But there's not a lot, to my knowledge, that gets at the way in which it can facilitate the process of backsliding.

We do know that in existing authoritarian contexts like Hungary and Russia, that leaders are able to build these really close linkages with elites in the business community, often through corruption, that can be helpful for these regimes. But there's not a lot, to my knowledge, that gets at the way in which it can facilitate the process of backsliding.

You know, I actually had not thought about tariffs from that perspective, but that's pretty spot on, actually, in that in general, where we see greater state intervention in the economy, it creates opportunities for corruption. It creates opportunities to establish deals and give access to networks where officials can store their money overseas and all sorts of things lie on the books.

You know, I actually had not thought about tariffs from that perspective, but that's pretty spot on, actually, in that in general, where we see greater state intervention in the economy, it creates opportunities for corruption. It creates opportunities to establish deals and give access to networks where officials can store their money overseas and all sorts of things lie on the books.

The list is fairly long of the ways in which governments can take advantage of those state interventions. So from that perspective, yeah, it certainly does generate more opportunities for corruption if there is greater state intervention in the economy and tariffs would fall under that category.

The list is fairly long of the ways in which governments can take advantage of those state interventions. So from that perspective, yeah, it certainly does generate more opportunities for corruption if there is greater state intervention in the economy and tariffs would fall under that category.

It does seem like there has been a shift, at least observationally, for all the reasons that you just mentioned, in that it looks like we're entering an era of court politics where everyone is flying to go get the ear of the new leader.

It does seem like there has been a shift, at least observationally, for all the reasons that you just mentioned, in that it looks like we're entering an era of court politics where everyone is flying to go get the ear of the new leader.

And it's not something that we're familiar with in the past, where all sectors of the business community are descending in Mar-a-Lago to try to get Trump's attention. And I think that this is really a reflection of an understanding that what Trump wants is what's going to happen. And that if you don't get into his good favor, that you're not going to get what you want.

And it's not something that we're familiar with in the past, where all sectors of the business community are descending in Mar-a-Lago to try to get Trump's attention. And I think that this is really a reflection of an understanding that what Trump wants is what's going to happen. And that if you don't get into his good favor, that you're not going to get what you want.

And you could even potentially be punished. So it's unclear what sorts of attacks Trump is going to implement against his opponents. But the overall energy is one in which most people have the impression that if you're against Trump, you might be persecuted in some way, that he might try to go after you, that your business could be at risk. So there's that component of it.

And you could even potentially be punished. So it's unclear what sorts of attacks Trump is going to implement against his opponents. But the overall energy is one in which most people have the impression that if you're against Trump, you might be persecuted in some way, that he might try to go after you, that your business could be at risk. So there's that component of it.

And also, I think there's an extra layer where, in some ways, many key sectors of society in the U.S. have kind of given up, I guess, for lack of a better word, in terms of, you know, trying to push back against what Trump's vision is for society here and have instead decided that it's in their interest to get on board with

And also, I think there's an extra layer where, in some ways, many key sectors of society in the U.S. have kind of given up, I guess, for lack of a better word, in terms of, you know, trying to push back against what Trump's vision is for society here and have instead decided that it's in their interest to get on board with

All of this kind of falls outside of my area of expertise in terms of analyzing some of the intricacies of what's happening with Trump and the business community. But the major thing that would come to the fore is this kind of sense of court politics where everybody's trying to get around the leader, flatter the leader to ensure that their business futures and political futures are intact.

All of this kind of falls outside of my area of expertise in terms of analyzing some of the intricacies of what's happening with Trump and the business community. But the major thing that would come to the fore is this kind of sense of court politics where everybody's trying to get around the leader, flatter the leader to ensure that their business futures and political futures are intact.