Is rent-seeking immoral? Examining the behaviour of religion-based political action committees and coalitions

Tullock recently offered six possible explanations for the observed size di sparity between the rent-seeking industry in the major democracies and the value of the actual rent to be derived. One of these is the possibility tha t rent-seeking is considered immoral by large segments of society, who ther efore are unwilling to engage in the activity. The purpose of this study is to provide an empirical response to this possible explanation provided by Tullock. The statistical evidence presented here suggests the lack of an et hical or moral basis against rent-seeking. Therefore, attempts to explain t he disparity noted by Tullock should, perhaps, proceed down other avenues.