Access Type
Campus Access Only
Entry Number
96
Start Date
4-5-2017 8:45 AM
End Date
4-5-2017 9:00 AM
Department
Political Science
Abstract
Abstract
Scholars of American public policy have noted substantial policy differences that persist among the American States. The policy environment that exists in a state contributes to its unique character: some states are more Liberal, some more Conservative. In this paper, I provide a measure of the differences among the American states in the ideological orientation of their public policies and an exploration of the possible explanations for these differences. I develop a Policy Liberalism Score that provides a relative measure of a state’s policy orientation. I then run a cross-sectional linear regression model to assess the relationship between this score and a variety of independent variables. This model produces statistically significant results for three political variables: Partisan control of the State Legislature, Party Strength, and Legislative Professionalism. These findings support literature that suggests political variables are important determinants of a state’s policy orientation.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dawson, Lorna
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Public Policy Liberalism in the American States
Abstract
Scholars of American public policy have noted substantial policy differences that persist among the American States. The policy environment that exists in a state contributes to its unique character: some states are more Liberal, some more Conservative. In this paper, I provide a measure of the differences among the American states in the ideological orientation of their public policies and an exploration of the possible explanations for these differences. I develop a Policy Liberalism Score that provides a relative measure of a state’s policy orientation. I then run a cross-sectional linear regression model to assess the relationship between this score and a variety of independent variables. This model produces statistically significant results for three political variables: Partisan control of the State Legislature, Party Strength, and Legislative Professionalism. These findings support literature that suggests political variables are important determinants of a state’s policy orientation.