Policy change is often the result of disparate political coalitions. Not all who support a change necessarily support that change for the same reason. Sometimes, political support for legislative change is the result of a "baptists and bootleggers" coalition–a coalition of those who support the change on normative grounds and those who hope to make a buck.
Economist Bruce Yandle coined the phrase. Here is his explanation of the theory:
Durable social regulation evolves when it is demanded by both of two distinctly different groups. "Baptists" point to the moral high ground and give vital and vocal endorsement of laudable public benefits promised by a desired regulation. Baptists flourish when their moral message forms a visible foundation for political action. "Bootleggers" are much less visible but no less vital. Bootleggers, who expect to profit from the very regulatory restrictions desired by Baptists, grease the political machinery with some of their expected proceeds. They are simply in it for the money.
The theory's name draws on colorful tales of states' efforts to regulate alcoholic beverages by banning Sunday sales at legal outlets. Baptists fervently endorsed such action on moral grounds. Bootleggers tolerated the actions gleefully because their effect was to limit competition.
It is worth noting that it is the details of a regulation that usually win the endorsement of bootleggers, not just the broader principle that may matter most to Baptists. Thus, for instance, bootleggers would not support restrictions on the Sunday consumption of alcoholic beverages, although Baptists might. Bootleggers want to limit competition, not intake. Important to the theory is the notion that bootleggers can rely on Baptists to monitor enforcement of the restrictions that benefit bootleggers.
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