Rich and Poor: The Threat to Democracy

Ever wondered why some democracies are struggling? A big part of the problem might be the gap between the rich and the poor. In countries where income inequality is high, democracy seems to weaken over time. This isn't just a theory; a recent study looked at many different countries and found that income inequality is one of the strongest signs that a democracy might be in trouble. Even in wealthy and long-standing democracies, if there's a lot of inequality, the democracy could be at risk. The study found that this link between inequality and democracy erosion is strong and doesn't change much if you look at other measures of inequality. It's also not just about the money; wealth inequality can also be a problem. This isn't a case of democracy causing inequality, it's the other way around. So, if you're worried about democracy, tackling inequality might be a good place to start.