rent-seeking

or rent seek·ing

[ rent-see-king ]
/ ˈrɛntˌsi kɪŋ /

noun Economics.

the act or process of using one’s assets and resources to increase one’s share of existing wealth without creating new wealth.
(specifically) the act or process of exploiting the political process or manipulating the economic environment to increase one’s revenue or profits: Rent-seeking by lobbyists succeeded in obtaining favorable tariff treatment for the company’s exports.

Origin of rent-seeking

First recorded in 1970–75; (economic) rent + seeking

OTHER WORDS FROM rent-seeking

rent-seek·er, noun

Example sentences from the Web for rent-seeking