[Saline9515]

This is a good intro by recognized researchers:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dictator%27s_Handbook

If you want me to be more precise, I would say that clientelism and tribalism are especially rewarded for politicians in a multi-ethnic society.

Also a good definition: https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/clientelism/E23ABE88...

[zimpenfish]

"Michael C. Moynihan reviewing the book for The Wall Street Journal stated that the writing style is similar to that of Freakonomics."

Ouch. If someone said that about a book I'd written, I would simply move to a forest and never write a single word again. Quite the damning review.

[Saline9515]

I told you that it was an intro. Here is the more serious book, by the same authors:

https://direct.mit.edu/books/monograph/2425/The-Logic-of-Pol...

And there is nothing wrong with vulgarization, aside from comments from pedantic HNers.