We find that rich citizens are politically better represented by parliamentarians than poor citizens (see Stadelmann, D.; Portmann, M. and Eichenberger, R., 2015, 'Income and policy choices: Evidence from parliamentary decisions and referenda ', Economics Letters 135, 117-120).
The questions are now the following:
- Is political representation likely to driven by turnout?
- Are the rich better represented because they also tend to be the better educated?
- Would you see our result as an argument for more direct democratic participation where equal representation is at least theoretically assured (one vote for every citizen)?
Article Income and policy choices: Evidence from parliamentary decis...
This is very interesting and also common in the globe. Can we also think other way around like those who are in politics are rich when compared with others!!!!!!!!!
Book Community Governance Practices
Rather than using my Political Science teachings, I will answer from a Media stand-point. The mainstream media is controlled by a few rich individuals, or corporations. News is filtered to the public so what we see and hear is geared towards what is driving these people. Advertising is one of the largest factors. "A Propaganda Model" in Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky's Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media pp. 1-35 2002 Pantheon is a good read on the subject.
I think this is multi-factorial e,g.
- the rich find it easier to vote
- they are more motivated to vote
- they are better able to engage direct with representatives
- they articulate their arguments in terms representative understand
- their views are seen as more salient (due to reasons such as content, economic power etc)
- they are sometimes part of the same networks as representatives
- they are more able to support the party with funds
- where corruption is practiced they have more resource to do so
- they can hire others to represent them
- they form effective networks with others
- they are more aware of how to use the administrative system
Beneath these there are fundamental causes
- inequity in wealth
- inequity in education
- inequity in access e.g. digital exclusion
- social attitudes
- internalised attitudes (this system is not for me)
David, that the rich is better off than the poor in all aspects of a distorted democracy is not a surprise and it is easy to see this in very simple terms as indicated below:
For example, let's assume true democracy can represented as follows:
Since true democracy (D)exist when everyone has equal opportunity to participate(A), to be represented(B), and to access benefits(C), the it can be expressed as follows:
I) D = A +B + C Where D = True democracy
A = equal participation
B = equal represention
C = equal opportuntity to benefit
Now true democracy is distored when we flush it with money, then the money give a comparative adventage to the rich as democracy is now distorted(DD), which can be indicated as follows:
ii) DD = M(D) = M(A) + M(B) + M(C) Where M = Money
DD = Distorted democracy
D = True democracy
You can easily deduct from formalla ii) above that now participation(A), representation(B) and the opportunity to benefit (C) will follow the money and work agains the poor....
Hence the rich are not just better represented as you say, they also have better participation and better access to benefits....
Have a nice day
Philadelphia, PA
Dear Stadelmann,
Several of the answers above are pretty good.
To sum it up, I'm inclined to say, in general, that those people are better represented in the political process who are better organized for the effort. Money is obviously an effective means to achieve such organization and influence. But it is often the case that being included and employed in large-scale institutions is also a very significant factor in being heard politically. Some large-scale organizations are a source of great wealth and income, others work by other means--including the media influence on public opinion, or simple institutional standing in non-profit organizations.
The interests of large-scale institutions are generally well represented, and the people who work within them benefit from their influence. The rich are among the better organized politically, but they are not the only well organized groups.
H.G. Callaway
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