The economics of elections

Elections are expensive, and becoming more so in Africa because of rapid population growth and civil conflicts. Resources, especially money, are therefore critical to electoral competition in both the established and emerging democracies (Nassmacher 2009; Samuels 2001; Austin and Tjernstrom 2003). As the US politician Jesse Unruh observed, money is the “mother’s milk of politics” (Nassmacher 2003, 5). Money is a double-edged sword, however, and can also distort the electoral process (Igwe 2011), such that successful, sustainable democracy demands particular attention to political finance (Nassmacher 2003).

Related Subject(s): Democracy and Governance