This paper examines the anti-corruption movement initiated by Kim Jong Un, focusing on the increased rent-seeking competition between the elite and the middle class as market mechanisms have developed in North Korea. I examine two hypotheses regarding this program. First, it is focused on constraining the influence gained by the elite through power–money collusion to maintain regime stability. Second, it aims to support decentralizing economic reforms and the direction of production surplus into state finances, to secure state revenue. In substantiating these hypotheses, I argue that the movement is driven by the goal of capitalizing on the benefits of the market without compromising regime security, by regulating “competitive rent-seeking” between the elite and the middle class.

中文翻译：

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朝鲜寻租精英与中产阶级竞争与金正恩的反腐运动

本文考察了金正恩发起的反腐败运动，重点关注随着朝鲜市场机制的发展，精英和中产阶级之间日益激烈的寻租竞争。我研究了关于这个程序的两个假设。首先，它侧重于限制精英通过权钱勾结获得的影响力，以维护政权稳定。其次，它旨在支持权力下放的经济改革和将生产过剩纳入国家财政的方向，以确保国家收入。在证实这些假设时，我认为这一运动的目标是在不损害政权安全的情况下利用市场的利益，通过规范精英和中产阶级之间的“竞争性寻租”。