Rent-seeking
Rent-seeking is the socially non-productive activity undertaken to maximize an individual or a firm's economic rent. Examples include bribery, lobbying to pass government regulations in one's favor, and outright stealing. Rent-seeking depresses the overall social surplus, and is one of the causes of economic inefficiency.
Examples
In 2006, there was a Massachusetts initiative to allow grocery stores to sell wine. The liquor stores, unwilling to allow new competitors to enter their market, vigorously opposed the measure in the guise of protecting safety and restrict teenagers' access to alcohol. Supermarkets, in contrast, supported the initiative. Both sides spent 11.5 million dollars in the campaign.[1]. Associated Press. November 8, 2006.</ref> This kind of campaign efforts undertaken by industries can be seen as an example of rent-seeking.