Economic Inequality's Threat to Democracy?

Insights from the Field

Economic Inequality

Democratic Accountability

New Gilded Age

Wealth Concentration

Durable Democracy? Economic Inequality and Democratic Accountability in the New Gilded Age was authored by Benjamin J. Newman and Thomas Hayes. It was published by Springer in Pol. Behav. in 2019.

# Durable Democracy?

The Problem:

The author investigates whether rising economic inequality, reminiscent of the Gilded Age, undermines democratic accountability.

### Data & Methods

* Examines survey data and historical trends related to wealth concentration.

### Key Findings

* Economic disparities significantly reduce responsiveness from governing institutions.

* Wealthy segments increasingly influence policy agendas away from public interest.

### Why It Matters Now

* The parallels between the Gilded Age and today's economic landscape suggest democratic accountability faces similar contemporary challenges.