The "revolving door" between public office and private industry often prioritizes personal networks over professional competency, a dynamic illustrated by leaked recordings between Jeffrey Epstein and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. These files reveal an "economy of favors" where elite politicians are coached to monetize their "IOUs"—debts owed by influential figures—rather than their technical expertise. Research from UC Berkeley economist Matilda Bombardini supports this observation, showing that lobbyists with personal connections to lawmakers earn approximately 9% more than those with subject-matter expertise. While Barak maintains his private sector success stems from his background in science and engineering, the Epstein files highlight how "door opening" and access to world leaders like Vladimir Putin are treated as high-value commodities. This reliance on elite power brokering has recently led to a wave of resignations and arrests across global business and political sectors as these once-private connections face public scrutiny.
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