New research reveals that despite declining voter turnout among lower-income citizens, economic disparities have paradoxically amplified the disproportionate political influence of higher-income groups. Using novel mixed-methods analysis combining survey data with legislative records, we demonstrate how wealth advantages translate into measurable advantage in policy outcomes across multiple dimensions.

Key finding: The study finds a striking divergence between democratic principles and actual representation - as inequality grows, wealthy citizens achieve greater policy responsiveness through campaign finance power and political engagement strategies. This contradicts the common assumption that declining participation among less affluent groups would diminish their influence.