Bread and Circuses in Ancient Rome

In the Roman Empire, there were not as many opportunities for economic advancement as today for the common man. Many homeless and very poor people lived in Rome and they had few choices. To placate the poor and homeless of Rome, Emperors frequently gave out free wheat and public games at public expense, know to many as bread and circuses. The plebeians were content with free food and entertainment. The system worked for many years, but it was only a stop gap for the problem of economic inequality in Rome, caused by a lack of inclusive economic institutions. Plebeians were dependent on handouts from the state, so politicians could effectively buy the support of the masses, instead of helping them support themselves. As a result of placating the people instead of fixing the root of the problem, the Roman economy stagnated somewhat contributing the collapse of the Empire.