Robert H. Bates and Steven Block focus on the political institutions and their effect on the relative political influence of rural producer. When rural dwellers constitute a large percentage of the national population, agricultural production tends to lie in the hands of a large number of small producers dispersed throughout the countryside. In addition, in the early stages of structural change, in most countries, a few large firms dominate in each industry, typically as the result of government protection, the tax treatment of capital, and the size of the market. Consumers should therefore hold a relative advantage as lobbyists in countries with large agricultural populations. Where representation is achieved through electoral channels and rural dwellers constitute a large segment of the voting population, politicians encounter powerful incentives to cater to the interests of farmers. Competitive electoral systems appear to check the negative impact of larger rural populations.