How firms, bureaucrats, and ministries benefit from the revolving door: Evidence from Japan

Fuente: arXiv
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Autor principal: Incerti, Trevor
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Incerti, Trevor
author_facet Incerti, Trevor
contents A growing literature finds high returns to firms with legislative connections. Less attention has been paid to returns from bureaucratic connections and to organizations beyond for-profit firms. Using data recording the first post-bureaucracy position occupied by all former civil servants in Japan, I reveal a bifurcated job market for former bureaucrats. High-ranking officials from elite economic ministries are more likely to join for-profit firms, where they generate returns such as increased government loans and positive stock market reactions. Lower-ranking officials are more likely to join nonprofits linked to government ministries, which receive higher-value contracts when former bureaucrats are in leadership roles. These patterns suggest that while firms wish to hire bureaucrats who can deliver tangible benefits, ministries also shape revolving door pathways by directing benefits to ensure long-term career value for civil servants. These findings reframe revolving door dynamics as the result of both firm-driven demand and bureaucratic incentives.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_22173
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle How firms, bureaucrats, and ministries benefit from the revolving door: Evidence from Japan
Incerti, Trevor
General Economics
Economics
A growing literature finds high returns to firms with legislative connections. Less attention has been paid to returns from bureaucratic connections and to organizations beyond for-profit firms. Using data recording the first post-bureaucracy position occupied by all former civil servants in Japan, I reveal a bifurcated job market for former bureaucrats. High-ranking officials from elite economic ministries are more likely to join for-profit firms, where they generate returns such as increased government loans and positive stock market reactions. Lower-ranking officials are more likely to join nonprofits linked to government ministries, which receive higher-value contracts when former bureaucrats are in leadership roles. These patterns suggest that while firms wish to hire bureaucrats who can deliver tangible benefits, ministries also shape revolving door pathways by directing benefits to ensure long-term career value for civil servants. These findings reframe revolving door dynamics as the result of both firm-driven demand and bureaucratic incentives.
title How firms, bureaucrats, and ministries benefit from the revolving door: Evidence from Japan
topic General Economics
Economics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.22173