Kleptocracy

A kleptocracy is a term applied to a government that extends the personal wealth and political power of government officials and the ruling class at the expense of the population. For example, a kleptocratic government often goes beyond merely awarding the prime contracts and civil service posts to friends. They also create projects and programs at a policy level which serve the primary purpose of funneling money out of the treasury and into the pockets of the executive.

Kleptocracies are often dictatorships or some other form of autocratic government. The creation of a kleptocracy powered by dictatorship typically results in many years of general hardship and suffering for the vast majority of citizens.