Why Parties Displace Their Voters: Gentrification, Coalitional Change, and the Demise of Public Housing

Across advanced economies, affordable housing shortages are pushing low-income voters out of cities. Left governments frequently exacerbate these by eliminating public housing. Why does the pursue policies that displace its voters? We argue Left’s long-term rebalancing towards middle class and away from an increasingly stigmatized “underclass” has significantly attenuated trade-offs inherent in reducing Focusing on UK, we demonstrate alienating politically reshuffling them across districts, crises have significant costs for Labour. Yet, drawing interviews, show displacement is nonetheless compatible with electoral interests: displaced make room richer whom politicians believe will also support A quantitative analysis Greater London’s 32 local authorities 624 wards further documents trends line coalitional rebalancing. Taken together, our findings foundations key to understanding gentrification.