The Political Economy of the Growth of the Liberian Public Sector

ABSTRACT

Using a political economy approach, this study examines the nature, dynamics, and causes of the expansion of the Liberian public sector. The findings show that the major causes for the expansion of the Liberian public sector did not fit those provided by the literature—citizens’ demands for new services, and other issues that emerge from state-building. Instead, the politico-economic interests of the Liberian ruling class (both the internal and external wings) are the major causes for the increase in the size of the government. These interests include serving the interests of corporate capitalism, and the private accumulation of wealth.

KEYWORDS:

• Liberia
• political economy
• public sector
• state

Acknowledgment

I would like to thank the two anonymous reviewers and the editors for their very useful comments and suggestions.