In poor democracies, votes are bought directly. Instead of being bribed, voters are subjected to a deluge of advertising, rounds of door-knocking and incessant social media messaging. A check on UK election spending is that contributions have to be declared correctly. The cost of perverting elections will have to be raised so that parties do not think it is a price worth paying to win. Without strict rules and harsh penalties, politicians will be tempted to win office by mortgaging the future to an investing elite.

Source: The Guardian March 19, 2017 19:41 UTC