Wealth, Poverty, and Politics

Observing the gap between charitable thought and action, the author examines the important policy implications which this discrepancy has in a democratic society. He argues that if the amount of money transferred to the poor actually reflects voter opinion, then improvements must be made within the limits of the funds made available in a democracy. Far from being negative about aiding the poor, this book sets out the realistic boundaries in which aid must operate. Furthermore, Tullock examines a fact not often discussed in other analyses of poverty: that it is in the nature of the voting process that many government income transfers go not to the poor, but to the well organized. This work sould be of interest to political economists and students of public choice.