Issue Voting and Government Responsiveness to Policy Preferences

Abstract Does citizens’ voting behavior influence government policy? Conventional models of democratic representation assume that issue by citizens induces responsiveness to preferences. However, existing research has not tested whether makes any difference responsiveness. We present a theoretical model and policy leverage Swedish election study panels corresponding dataset on implementation empirically evaluate the adoption governments popular policies. find parties enter are more likely implement policies if supporters shift their votes towards those parties. Thus, can lead as long it does force be inconsistent with prior positions.