Martin Gilens (Princeton) and Benjamin I. Page (Northwestern): Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens (“Multivariate analysis indicates that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while average citizens and mass-based interest groups have little or no independent influence”.) Michele E. Gilman (Baltimore): A Court for the One Percent: How the Supreme Court Contributes to Economic Inequality. From Democracy Journal, Vanessa Williamson reviews Rich People’s Movements: Grassroots Campaigns to Untax the One Percent by Isaac William Martin; and Tom Perriello reviews White-Collar Government: The Hidden Role of Class in Economic Policy Making by Nicholas Carnes. Justin Fox on America’s long and productive history of class warfare. From Vox, Ezra Klein on how money isn’t the only way the rich dominate politics; and on the Doom Loop of Oligarchy: wealth buys power, which buys more wealth. David L. Ulin reviews The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap by Matt Taibbi. Annie Lowrey on how the wealth gap in America is growing, too. Danny Vinik on how the economic recovery is staggeringly tilted towards the rich. How you, I, and everyone got the top 1 percent all wrong: Derek Thompson on unveiling the real story behind the richest of the rich. The rich strike back: Ben White and Maggie Haberman on how the effectiveness of the populist approach is coming into question. There is no meritocracy: It’s just the 1 percent, and the game is rigged. Want to cut the rich’s influence? Take away their money!
