The Political Economy of Human Rights Scandals

28 Pages Posted: 26 Aug 2012 Last revised: 7 Apr 2013

See all articles by Christopher J. Coyne

Christopher J. Coyne

George Mason University - Department of Economics

Rachel L. Mathers

Delaware State University

Date Written: August 25, 2012

Abstract

This paper develops the political economy of human rights scandals involving government agencies. Human rights scandals occur when violations of human rights are made public and cause, or threaten to cause, damage to the reputation of the agencies involved. It is argued that human rights scandals serve as “fire alarms” which alert legislators and the public that existing rules are failing to prevent discretionary human rights abuses by government agents. An analysis of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal is provided to illustrate the economic approach to human rights scandals.

Keywords: Abu Ghraib prison, Dehumanization, Human rights, Human rights scandal, rules

JEL Classification: D73, F59, Z18

Suggested Citation

Coyne, Christopher J. and Mathers, Rachel L., The Political Economy of Human Rights Scandals (August 25, 2012). GMU Working Paper in Economics No. 12-47, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2136188 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2136188

Christopher J. Coyne (Contact Author)

George Mason University - Department of Economics ( email )

4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.ccoyne.com/

Rachel L. Mathers

Delaware State University ( email )

Dover, DE 19901
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.rachelmathers.com

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