Economic Inequality and Political Participation: Assessing Socioeconomic Disparities in Democratic Engagement

Abstract

Economic inequality has become a central challenge to democratic participation because disparities in income, wealth, education, employment, and social class can shape citizens’ capacity to engage in political life. The study examines how socioeconomic inequality influences electoral and non-electoral participation, with attention to voting, campaign activity, protest, civic engagement, and other forms of democratic involvement. It synthesizes studies on the resource, relative power, political efficacy, grievance, and mobilization perspectives to explain why participation differs across socioeconomic groups. The evidence indicates that higher socioeconomic status generally provides greater access to time, money, civic skills, political information, social networks, and organizational opportunities, while poverty, unemployment, poor health, and economic insecurity can restrict engagement. However, the relationship between inequality and participation is not uniform. Economic inequality may depress turnout and campaign activity, yet perceived unfairness and redistributive grievances can encourage protest and collective action under some conditions. Institutional and contextual factors, including electoral rules, compulsory voting, trade unions, political parties, welfare arrangements, and clientelism, can either widen or reduce participation gaps. The literature further suggests that unequal participation can reinforce unequal political influence and representation, creating a feedback relationship between economic and political inequality. Future research should give greater attention to wealth inequality, digital participation, life-course disadvantage, subjective perceptions of inequality, and underrepresented democratic contexts. Overall, the review highlights socioeconomic inclusion as a condition for political equality and democratic legitimacy.