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Abstract
Why do authoritarian regimes provide welfare? This article examines the information problems autocrats face, including their ability to identify public preferences and the key groups they must co-opt to stay in power. Despite democracies providing welfare by public demand, authoritarian leaders use welfare provision strategically to maintain their ruling coalitions. I argue that the extent of welfare provided hinges on the support group that rely upon and their capability to manage information deficits, which enables more targeted benefits. By analysing data on authoritarian regimes from 1966 to 2011, I find that those with mass-based coalitions and strong mass party organizations provide more universal welfare. However, this effect diminishes when autocrats manage information problems effectively through well- organized mass parties. These organizations play a pivotal role in resolving information problems and minimizing reliance on universal welfare provisions by enabling efficient targeting of benefits.