UnbiasedAmerica
Rookie
- Jul 19, 2013
- 27
- 8
Scholars have discovered a disturbing reason why cities like Detroit continue to reelect the same leadership despite decades of increasing poverty, crime, and corruption.
James Curley, a four-time mayor of Boston in the early 1900's, redistributed wealth to his poor Irish constituents and used incendiary rhetoric to drive richer citizens out of Boston, thereby shaping the electorate in his favor. As a consequence, Boston stagnated, but Curley kept winning elections.
Recently a study found many situations conforming to the "Curley Effect," in which a political party drives its wealthy opponents out, sacrificing the well being of its constituents to ensure the reelection of its politicians.
Detroit is the most prominent example. In his 20 years as mayor, Detroits Coleman Young pursued policies that encouraged his wealthy, white political enemies to leave town, drastically increasing poverty, decreasing population by almost 50%, but gaining political advantage for himself.
A look at the ten poorest cities in America reveals just how dominant a political party can become despite (or because of) poverty:
Detroit, Michigan - Democrat since 1961
Buffalo, New York - Democrat since 1965
Cleveland, Ohio - Democrat since 1989
Miami, Florida - Democrat since 1896
Cincinnati, Ohio - Democrat since 1979
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Democrat/Socialist since 1908
Newark, New Jersey - Democrat since 1907
St. Louis, Missouri - Democrat since 1949
Memphis, Tennessee - Democrat since 1826
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Democrat since 1951
Source - The Curley Effect: The Economics of Shaping the Electorate, By Edward L. Glaeser and Andrei Shleifer, Harvard University and NBER
James Curley, a four-time mayor of Boston in the early 1900's, redistributed wealth to his poor Irish constituents and used incendiary rhetoric to drive richer citizens out of Boston, thereby shaping the electorate in his favor. As a consequence, Boston stagnated, but Curley kept winning elections.
Recently a study found many situations conforming to the "Curley Effect," in which a political party drives its wealthy opponents out, sacrificing the well being of its constituents to ensure the reelection of its politicians.
Detroit is the most prominent example. In his 20 years as mayor, Detroits Coleman Young pursued policies that encouraged his wealthy, white political enemies to leave town, drastically increasing poverty, decreasing population by almost 50%, but gaining political advantage for himself.
A look at the ten poorest cities in America reveals just how dominant a political party can become despite (or because of) poverty:
Detroit, Michigan - Democrat since 1961
Buffalo, New York - Democrat since 1965
Cleveland, Ohio - Democrat since 1989
Miami, Florida - Democrat since 1896
Cincinnati, Ohio - Democrat since 1979
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Democrat/Socialist since 1908
Newark, New Jersey - Democrat since 1907
St. Louis, Missouri - Democrat since 1949
Memphis, Tennessee - Democrat since 1826
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Democrat since 1951
Source - The Curley Effect: The Economics of Shaping the Electorate, By Edward L. Glaeser and Andrei Shleifer, Harvard University and NBER
