ENGLISH

Following Their Leaders: Political Preferences and Public Policy

By Randall G. Holcombe

Book information

Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
2023
ISBN
1009323164, 9781009323161
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
1 MB (1223223 bytes)
Series
Cambridge Studies in Economics, Choice, and Society
Pages
229\230
Time added
2023-03-28 21:33:35

Description

Models of democratic decision-making tend to assume that voters have preferences and that candidates adjust their platforms to conform with those preferences; however, the direction of causation is largely the opposite. Political elites offer policy platforms to voters, and voters adopt those policies - they follow their leaders. Following Their Leaders argues that policies are designed by the elite and the electorate has little say. Preferences for public policy tend to be anchored in a political identity associated with a candidate, party, or ideology; voters' preferences on most issues are derived from their anchor preferences. Holcombe argues that because citizens adopt the policies offered by the elite, democratic institutions are ineffective constraints on the exercise of political power. This volume explores political institutions that help control the elite who exercise political power and discusses the implications political preferences have on democracies.

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