Revolving Door

The revolving door refers to the practice of individuals rotating between working in the private sector and working for the government, often in regulatory capacities, and vice versa. While the government needs individuals with expertise in specific areas, this practice may blur the distinction between the public good and business interests.

There are various types of revolving doors: industry to government, government to industry, law to government and then back to law or working as a lobbyist. Business executives sometimes take positions in government regulating industries in which they were recently employed. The experience the business executive brings to the job could be vital to the government, but it is fraught with potential for conflict of interest. A person who has made a career in a ...