Suchergebnisse

Spatial studies of political behavior have examined the structure of influential interests, yet there is little comprehensive, coherent, theory-based research of such influences on policy administration at the local and regional levels. Borrowing from the work of many scholars and integrating findings from across various subfields, this study identifies indicators for explaining the politics of area and administration. In particular; the author argues that the nature and degree of field office responsiveness depends on its place within the institutional structure, the congruence between organizational norms and societal expectations, areal effects arising from political context, and the structure of organized interests.

This article aims to establish empirically whether changes in the aggregate policy preferences of voters in western democracies relate systematically to national economic performance. Results from a time-series, cross-sectional regression analysis of data on aggregate policy preferences from fourteen western democracies (1956-1989) support a hypothesis originally suggested, for the American case, by Durr (1993): when the economy expands aggregate policy preferences move left, but when the economy contracts aggregate policy preferences move right. This finding sustains the normatively appealing conclusion that change in aggregate policy preference reflects the measured response of many individuals to changes in their political environment. 3 Tables, 1 Figure, 49 References. Adapted from the source document.