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https://doi.org/10.17645/pag.v7i2.1873
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American State Ballot Initiatives and Income Inequality
[journal article]
Abstract Some have argued that the ballot initiative process prevalent in many American states might lower inequality. We contend this is improbable based on what is known about whether expansion of democracy leads to redistribution, the attitudes of citizens, and the characteristics of the initiative proces... view more
Some have argued that the ballot initiative process prevalent in many American states might lower inequality. We contend this is improbable based on what is known about whether expansion of democracy leads to redistribution, the attitudes of citizens, and the characteristics of the initiative process. Nevertheless, the proposition needs testing. We examine three types of evidence. First, we analyze the content and passage of all post-World War II initiatives going to voters in California, a state that makes heavy use of ballot propositions. Second, we model institutional factors influencing differences in inequality at the state-level from 1976-2014 to test the aggregate-level effect of ballot initiatives on income inequality. Third, we use individual level data to evaluate the claim that frequent initiative use makes lower income people happier because it helps to reduce inequality. Our analyses consistently indicate that the ballot initiative process fails to reduce income inequality.... view less
Keywords
United States of America; political strategy; electoral sociology; election research; voter; wage difference; election; direct democracy
Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Free Keywords
direct democracy; income inequality; life satisfaction; redistribution; state ballot initiatives
Document language
English
Publication Year
2019
Page/Pages
p. 380-409
Journal
Politics and Governance, 7 (2019) 2
Issue topic
The Politics, Promise and Peril of Direct Democracy
ISSN
2183-2463
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed