A comprehensive study analyzing 97 democratic nations reveals a striking paradox: while working-class candidates demonstrate equivalent qualifications and electoral success rates compared to white-collar counterparts, they remain dramatically underrepresented in political office. The research identifies recruitment barriers as the primary obstacle, exposing systemic gaps in candidate selection processes rather than voter preference or competence issues. This finding challenges conventional assumptions about political accessibility and highlights institutional failures in fostering true socioeconomic diversity within elected bodies.

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