Following Their Leaders
Political Preferences and Public Policy

The political preferences of citizens and voters are derived from those offered to them by the political elite.

Randall G. Holcombe (Author)

9781009323161, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 March 2023

200 pages
23.5 x 15.5 x 1.8 cm, 0.47 kg

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.

1. Introduction
2. Instrumental and Expressive Preferences
3. Influences Over Preference Formation
4. Preference Aggregation Through Voting
5. The Formation of Political Preferences
6. Anchor Preferences and Derivative Preferences
7. Preferences of Elites and Masses
8. Policies that Maximize Political Power
9. Patriotism, Propaganda, and the Public Interest
10. Implications for Democracy.

Subject Areas: Public finance [KFFD]