Elites Below Rich Democracies Become Rent Seekers

Handing power to elites works well in moderately-or-more democratic rich countries (Amartya Sen's definition: competitive parties, free press), but below the level of rich democracies, empowering elites tends to produce old-fashioned Gordon Tullock rent seekers who steer everything toward themselves and ignore the masses—which is why '10% Less Democracy' targets only rich democracies.