Offers the first comprehensive analysis in this widespread but ill-understood practice of vote buying. The authors systematically explore a series of key questions: What exactly is vote buying? What are its underlying causes? Why does it occur in some places, but not in others? How does it affect political and economic development? Can it be taught or legislated away? Their work presents new theoretical insights, as well as historical and fresh empirical evidence that vote buying has turned into a worldwide phenomenon. Published in 2007.