Political Development: Payoffs to the Voter Base and Corruption

This chapter examines the political development of Trinidad and Tobago (TT) with a focus on payoffs to the voter base and corruption. TT can be described as an ethnic-based patronage democracy where voters prioritize parties based on ethnicity rather than political ideologies. The data shows that shifts in employment by ethnicity occur under different political administrations, favouring the ethnic base of the ruling party. This rationalizes voting along ethnic lines as it increases the chances of securing public jobs when one’s party wins. Ethnicity and political affiliation influence attitudes towards corruption, with insiders showing more tolerance. Trust in the government is generally low and fluctuates based on the ethnic background of the prime minister in power, leading to shifts in trust levels between administrations, particularly among certain demographics. This chapter underscores the importance of combating corruption and bolstering trust in the government.