The Chain of Representation
Preferences, Institutions, and Policy across Presidential Systems

A comparative analysis of why democratic institutions often produce dissonance between citizens' preferences and public policy in separation-of-powers regimes.

Brian F. Crisp (Author), Santiago Olivella (Author), Guillermo Rosas (Author)

9781108745413, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 March 2020

285 pages, 44 b/w illus. 26 tables
23 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.45 kg

'... the book describes a fascinating set of regional trends ...' Emily Beaulieu Bacchus, Comparative Politics

How do formal institutions affect the extent to which democracies adopt policies that reflect the preferences of their citizens? Based on a chain of representation model in which electoral rules and policy-making powers link citizens, politicians, and policies, this book reveals the conditions under which citizen preferences and implemented policies diverge. Comparative quantitative analyses encompassing eighteen Latin American countries show that presidential democracies vary greatly in the degree to which they demonstrate responsiveness to their electorates. Often, individual presidents with strong legislative powers have prompted policy changes that are unrepresentative of voter preferences. Other times, their interactions with legislatures result in more representative policies. Grounded in clear theory and thorough empirics, this study shows how rules can introduce dissonance between voters and politicians, but also how they can potentially reduce it. This is an excellent resource for scholars and graduate students interested in comparative politics, institutional design, economic policy, and Latin American studies.

1. Studying the chain of representation
2. Our solutions to the challenges of studying the chain of representation
Part I. Stages: 3. Stage 1: citizens' preferences
4. Stage 2: policymakers' preferences
5. Stage 3: public policies chosen
6. Placing preferences and policies on a common scale
Part II. Linkages: 7. Linkage 1: electoral systems
8. Linkage 2: policymaking processes
Part III. Testing the Chain of Representation: 9. From citizens to policymakers
10. From policymakers to policies
11. From citizen to policies
12. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

Subject Areas: Comparative politics [JPB], Politics & government [JP], Hispanic & Latino studies [JFSL4]