Patronage, Oligarchic Interests, and Budget Policy in the Georgian Parliament

• In Event: Post-Soviet Politics of Patronage and Identity

Abstract

Oligarchs and their loyal clients often get elected to the national legislature to protect their economic interests through influence on policymaking. What do these patron-client network actors do once they are in the legislature, particularly in regards to the national budget? Analyzing roll-call data from the Georgian Parliament, I argue that representatives of patronage networks are most likely to support the national budget if their recommendations and suggestions are implemented by the government.

Author

• Zaur Kapanadze, Texas Tech U