A closer look at those at the top reveals a disproportionate role for rent-seeking: some have obtained their wealth by exercising monopoly power; others are CEOs who have taken advantage of deficiencies in corporate governance to extract for themselves an excessive share of corporate earnings; and still others have used political connections to benefit from government munificence –&nbsp;either excessively high prices for what the government buys (drugs), or excessively low prices for what the government sells (mineral rights).
更仔细地审视顶层阶级，我们可以发现寻租的作用畸高：有些人从垄断权力中攫取财富；有些人身居CEO高位，利用公司治理的漏洞将不成比例的公司利润揽入自己腰包；还有人利用政治关系从政府的慷慨中获利——比如政府的高价采购（药品）和低价出售（矿权）。