Democratic presidents have been better for economy, middle class - study

Average income growth for the middle-income earners has been about twice as great under Democratic presidents as it has been under Republicans over the last sixty years,  according to a study by Larry Bartels, Professor of Politics and Princeton University.

The 'working poor' have done six-times better, Professor Bartels said on the latest edition  of the BBC's Business Daily Program.

Democrats also presided over about 30% greater economic growth: an average of 2.8% per year compared with 1.6%.

Asked whether he had any political affiliations, the professor told BBC presenter Lesley Curwen he hadn't been registered to vote for over 20 years.

"I've thought of myself as being a pretty apolitical political scientist," he said.

A recent article by Professor Bartels on the current election

A paper