Bureaucratic infighting in both German and Iraqi reconstruction is explained by the public-choice model of bureaucracy: non-elected, non-profit-driven bureaucrats measure success by budget size and number of subordinates, so each bureau fights to be in charge to maximize its budget and headcount—meaning the dysfunction is structural, not a failure of effort by the Bush administration.

causalpending

Speaker

Christopher Coyne

Evidence Quote

I'm in charge I get a bigger budget I get to hire more people ... this is not limited to Iraq it's not a function of a Republican administration

Source

Christopher Coyne on Exporting Democracy after War 04/07/2008EconTalk
Created: 6/15/2026, 9:29:02 AM

My Notes

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