The political economy of American Indian policy: introduction to a special issue

This article delves into the political economy of American Indian policy, drawing on the concept of the 'Narrow Corridor' from Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson's 'The Narrow Corridor.' It examines how government policies have affected Indigenous peoples, often excluding them from political and economic freedoms while failing to protect their land and resources. The articles in this special issue use public choice theory and the study of economic institutions to analyze the historical and contemporary impacts of these policies. They explore how tribes organized economic activity before contact with European settlers, the role of culture, the effects of colonialism, and current efforts to renew tribal economies. The special issue originated from a workshop hosted by the Renewing Indigenous Economies program at Stanford’s Hoover Institution and includes contributions from Campbell Fellows. The essays provide a unique perspective on the challenges faced by Indigenous peoples and offer insights into the political and economic dynamics that shape their experiences.