Following Their Leaders: Political Preferences and Public Policy

Political elites offer policy platforms to voters, who adopt them; this book argues that policies are designed by the elite and the electorate has little say, making democratic institutions ineffective constraints on the exercise of political power.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 23 March 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Models of democratic decision-making often assume that voters have preferences and that candidates adjust their platforms accordingly. However, the direction of causation is largely the opposite. Political elites present policy platforms to voters, and voters adopt those policies – they follow their leaders. In his book "Following Their Leaders," Holcombe 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 contends 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.

Weight: 358g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009323192