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The Rich Have a Slight Edge: Evidence from Comparative Data on Income-Based Inequality in Policy Congruence
[journal article]
Abstract Several recent studies have found unequal policy responsiveness, meaning that the policy preferences of high-income citizens are better reflected in implemented policies than the policy preferences of low-income citizens. This has been found mainly in a few studies from the US and a small number of ... view more
Several recent studies have found unequal policy responsiveness, meaning that the policy preferences of high-income citizens are better reflected in implemented policies than the policy preferences of low-income citizens. This has been found mainly in a few studies from the US and a small number of single-country studies from Western Europe. However, there is a lack of comparative studies that stake out the terrain across a broader group of countries. We analyze survey data on the policy preferences of about 3,000 policy proposals from thirty European countries over nearly forty years, combined with information on whether each policy proposal was implemented or not. The results from the cross-country data confirm the general pattern from previous studies that policies supported by the rich are more likely to be implemented than those supported by the poor. We also test four explanations commonly found in the literature: whether unequal responsiveness is exacerbated by (a) high economic inequality, (b) the absence of campaign finance regulations, (c) low union density, and (d) low voter turnout.... view less
Keywords
representativity; politics; difference in income; inequality; economic situation; social inequality; affluence; poverty; survey research; United States of America; Western Europe; EU; EVS; Eurobarometer; ISSP
Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
General Sociology, Basic Research, General Concepts and History of Sociology, Sociological Theories
Free Keywords
responsiveness; congruence; political representation; EVS; ISSP; Eurobarometer; CSES
Document language
English
Publication Year
2023
Page/Pages
p. 514-525
Journal
British Journal of Political Science, 54 (2023) 2
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123423000066
ISSN
0007-1234
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed