Preferences, problems and representation
Preferences, problems and representation
Scholars studying opinion representation often rely on a survey question that asks about the “most important problem” (MIP) facing the nation. While we know that MIP responses do reflect public priorities, less is known about their connection to policy preferences. This paper directly addresses the issue. First, it conceptualizes policy preferences and MIP responses, specifically considering the possibility that the latter may be either policy- or outcome-based. Second, using aggregate-level data from the US and the UK, it then examines the correspondence between public spending preferences and MIP responses over time. Results indicate that MIP responses and spending preferences tap very different things and that using MIP responses substantially understates the representational relationship between public opinion and policy.
659-681
Jennings, Will
2ab3f11c-eb7f-44c6-9ef2-3180c1a954f7
Wlezien, Christopher
e5c172ce-90fc-4bb3-989f-f11e4acb7e53
20 March 2015
Jennings, Will
2ab3f11c-eb7f-44c6-9ef2-3180c1a954f7
Wlezien, Christopher
e5c172ce-90fc-4bb3-989f-f11e4acb7e53
Jennings, Will and Wlezien, Christopher
(2015)
Preferences, problems and representation.
Political Science Research Methods, 3 (3), .
(doi:10.1017/psrm.2015.3).
Abstract
Scholars studying opinion representation often rely on a survey question that asks about the “most important problem” (MIP) facing the nation. While we know that MIP responses do reflect public priorities, less is known about their connection to policy preferences. This paper directly addresses the issue. First, it conceptualizes policy preferences and MIP responses, specifically considering the possibility that the latter may be either policy- or outcome-based. Second, using aggregate-level data from the US and the UK, it then examines the correspondence between public spending preferences and MIP responses over time. Results indicate that MIP responses and spending preferences tap very different things and that using MIP responses substantially understates the representational relationship between public opinion and policy.
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Accepted/In Press date: 3 February 2015
Published date: 20 March 2015
Organisations:
Politics & International Relations
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Local EPrints ID: 374060
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/374060
PURE UUID: dba75e33-8e4f-426f-a498-8801603b10b8
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Date deposited: 09 Feb 2015 09:43
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:42
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Author:
Christopher Wlezien
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