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Title: Dynamic Responsiveness in the American States, 19362014

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2017

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Abstract: One of the bedrock assumptions of democratic theory is that the views of citizens influence government policy decisions. Previous studies have found a strong cross-sectional relationship between public opinion and state policy outputs. But the ultimate test of responsiveness is the extent to which changes in the mass publics preferences cause changes in public policies. In this paper, we reassess the quality of representation in the American states over the past three quarters of a century using a large battery of historical evidence and new statistical techniques. We show that changes in the mass publics policy views are associated with changes in state policy outputs. Moreover, we show that adaptation of elected officials to changes in opinion is more important than partisan selection as the mechanism for responsiveness in state politics. Finally, we evaluate the influence of institutional reforms, such as direct democracy, term limits, and campaign finance reforms. Our findings have large implications for our understanding of public opinion, representation, and elections in the American states.

Url: http://www.utdallas.edu/sppc/pdf/CaugheyWarshaw.pdf

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Authors: Caughey, Devin; Warshaw, Christopher

Publisher: MIT

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Other

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