The Power of kith and kin: Empirical evidence of kin among public administrators, judges and notaries, in the Czech Republic
Abstract
There is marginal empirical evidence of kin among officials of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and strong evidence among Czech judges and notaries while the members of the Czech Bar Association serve as a control group for occupational following among lawyers, that is following in parents' careers. The Czech population is a reference group for consanguinity which occurs naturally.
These findings complement international research in occupational following which is common in many trades of human life, including civil service and public administration of law. Occupational following in offices of a liberal democracy is considered discriminatory, providing an unfair advantage and discreet opportunities.
Assets created in networks of consanguinity are expressions of in-group favouritism.