Why politicians hate to bring economic reforms?

Economic reforms while being an intellectual idea remains very much in the hands of politicians in a democracy. While it needs a certain level of intellectual vision, planning and execution but the on-off switch is controlled by politicians.

If we closely study the political and economic situation of most countries, barring a few exceptions we will find most of the political class doesn't feel compelled to bring any significant economic reforms. They seem more interested to let the citizenry feel the status quo. Any significant changes and the political class lose its sleep for the fear of losing power. While status quo is a universal truth among politicians, any reform that is ever done is mostly by those coming from outside into the political sphere. While the hardcore politicians refrain from taking such decisions. So, what is it that prevents politicians from undertaking economic reforms while continuing with their populist agenda?

Politicians are usually hated in most parts of the world. They are perceived as a selfish class who only think about their own interest all the time. While this is not entirely incorrect but a little microscopic vision would let us know that it is most of the time their ideology that prevents them from taking a certain decision. A political party's ideology depends upon their beliefs and those beliefs guide their policies. For example, Conservatives are more nationalistic and pro capitalism right wingers whereas Socialists are more liberal centre or left wingers. Their idea of economic policy also follows their ideology. Pro capitalism usually entrepreneurship and wealth creation and profiteering whereas socialists believe in bridging the wealth gap and promoting social welfare schemes.

Economic reforms bring with itself a change in the thought process of people, the way they think, the way their lifestyle changes, the way their outlook towards the world changes. All these changes at a certain level are scary for politicians. Their personal and ideological interest lies in keeping people the way they are so in turn the politicians and their ideologies would not have to change and pivot to the new normal that might be thrown at them in response to economic reforms. If politicians have their way, they would very much like to cut you off the rest of the world and feed you nationalist propaganda to keep you a slave of the political party. Fortunately, in a democracy there are opposition parties and institutional integrity to stand to political class for justice and freedom.

One of the repercussions of economic reforms in underdeveloped countries is the education level of people goes up when economic reforms take place. Couples usually want their kids to have good quality education if they can afford it. This leads to very different kind of shift in their thought process. The kids talk to their uneducated parents and in a way make them aware. This kind of social awareness in a country's citizenry is again bad news for the political class. They will again have to make changes in their way of functioning and pivot to this educated and aware citizenry which will keep them on their toes. Remember the saying "people get the leader they deserve."

Politicians are a very reluctant lot. They don't want to change. Their love for status quo makes them long for a herd mentality in their citizenry. A populous that does not ask questions of its leaders, does not agitate, do whatever is asked of them without getting curious. Many a times we see politicians using events like coronavirus pandemic to exert more control over their citizen. Bring in legislation restricting freedom of speech and expressions, curbing movement and prohibiting assembly. many of the countries whose citizenry is rather submissive slip into authoritarianism.

Keeping people poor serves the interests of the political elites. While they can enjoy their power and accesses, they don't want the people to have those luxuries. So, they come up with sinister plans and schemes to show the populous that they are doing everything they can to bring in economic reforms but they make sure the reforms never get implemented, for they don't want the status quo to change and power to slip off their hands.

Conclusion:

While economic reforms bring positive change to the society, it brings a sense of insecurity into the political class. The political elites have their interests served by a populous that have a herd mentality, does not ask question or be critical of their policies. This quest for power drives them to make sure the populous does not receive any sense of awareness which seems very practical in case economic reforms are rolled out. If parents will have money, they will send their kids for quality education which will then seep into the society causing the political class to face an aware and educated society which is never easy. It will force them to be on their toes and work harder. Not something they wish to do. So, they will do whatever it takes to derail the economic reform process and keep people in a make-belief world.