Why do the poor vote for elite parties?

What is it about?

Why do poor people often vote against their material interests? This global paradox has been studied extensively within Western democracies. I extend this work by considering how a similar puzzle arises within India, the world’s biggest democracy. I show how an elite party in India wooed the poor by privately providing them basic social services in health and education. This strategy allowed the party to keep representing elite interests in its policy platform.

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Why is it important?

Adapts the 'What's the Matter with Kansas' puzzle for India Explains the rise of an elite party succeeded within a poor democracy.