Democracies are believed to provide more public goods than autocracies, especially at the local level. However, recent studies have questioned this belief. This study looked at how democracy affects access to basic water. The researchers found that national regime type doesn't impact water access once development is considered. But in poor countries, having local elections and competitive democracy leads to better water access. The longer democratic institutions are in place, the more positive the impact on water access in poor countries. This study suggests that we need to look beyond just resources or national regime characteristics to understand how public goods are provided.