The political economy of American Indian policy: introduction to a special issue

Abstract

Historically and currently, federal policies governing American Indian country do not typically resemble policies that economists think would stimulate economic and cultural prosperity. This special issue employs Public Choice and New Institutional Economics to analyze the origins and consequences of these policies. This approach, which emphasizes rent seeking, government failure, and formal and informal institutions offers new insights into the understanding of persistent barriers to prosperity and sovereignty in Indian country and what changes might be necessary to break down the obstacles.