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Originally posted by: Purdue University News Service

Congress helps politicians hone skills for future careers

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -

The time U. S. senators and representatives spend in Congress can be viewed as similar to the on-the-job training a carpenter or plumber would acquire during an apprenticeship, says a Purdue University political science expert.

"What would you do if the very day you were hired, you knew you could be unemployed in as little as two years?" says Glenn R. Parker, a distinguished professor of political science. "Politicians are concerned about what will happen when they leave public office, either through electoral defeat or retirement. Facing these circumstances, they hone their political skills, develop substantive expertise, cultivate bureaucratic contacts and build marketable reputations - all designed to amass what we call human capital - in order to make themselves more attractive to future employers."

For example, some individuals may specialize in banking matters, and their careers are directed toward developing legislation in the area, serving on related committees and becoming experts on financial issues. Ultimately, the goal is to parlay that experience into employment opportunities in the financial sector, Parker says.

Parker surveyed more than 200 former members who served in Congress during the past half century. His findings are published in his new book "Capitol Investments: The Marketability of Political Skills."

Parker found that more than half of his sample, while still in office, gave thought to what they would be doing after they left Congress. More than 40 percent actually thought about the
particular job they ended up holding immediately after they left Congress, and 43 percent changed careers from their precongressional vocation to employment in such areas as lobbying, education, nonprofit agencies, finance and government.

"People often assume politicians become lobbyists and little else, but my research indicates that 23 percent took jobs as lobbyists immediately after exiting Congress, and 37 percent of them took jobs as lobbyists as one of their first three jobs after leaving Congress," he says.

"It might seem odd to think of lobbyists who are skilled politicians as benefiting society," Parker says. "Lobbying generates benefits for special interests rather than society as a whole, which can detract from the welfare of society. Lobbying legislators are beneficial in that they can be more efficient in their lobbying activities, thereby lowering the political influence costs that are passed on to consumers by lobbying organizations and the industries they represent."

Parker also found that the average salary for members of Congress when they leave office is more than $247,000 in 2004 dollars. On the average, legislators' postelective salaries were some $11,000 less than what they earned prior to entering Congress. The highest postcongressional salary was more than $1.3 million.

"The question that is most important to voters is what special interest groups are involved in subsidizing a candidate's campaign? This information will provide a pretty good idea what area the politician will specialize in and the types of jobs he or she is likely to take once they leave Congress."

"Capitol Investments: The Marketability of Political Skills" ($50, click HERE to look inside) was published in September by The University of Michigan in the Press' "Economics, Cognition and Society Series."

Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS AND EDUCATORS: Visit http://www.press.umich.edu/ to request a copy of "Capitol Investments."