Preprint
Too Much Democracy? Exploring the Link Between Majoritarian Institutions and Disparities in the American States
APSA Preprints
American Political Science Association
04/13/2022
DOI: 10.33774/apsa-2022-qbxnk
Abstract
Do state institutions that empower majority preferences exacerbate disparities in social outcomes? Under what conditions do majoritarian institutions exacerbate inequalities in the American states? Our argument is that equality is most likely to be threatened under majoritarian institutions when (1) there are systemic participatory biases and/or (2) there are widespread prejudices about particular groups in society. We find that majoritarian institutions are associated with larger disparities between white and black life expectancy and poverty rates across the American states, but not educational attainment. We also find that this effect is moderated by racial context, with majoritarian institutions being associated with greater disparities for states with diverse racial contexts and smaller disparities in more homogenous states. These findings suggest that majoritarian institutions operate to the benefit of the white majority, while coming at the cost of minority population outcomes when a racial threat is perceived, and presumably, public opinion is biased.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Too Much Democracy? Exploring the Link Between Majoritarian Institutions and Disparities in the American States
- Creators
- Julianna Pacheco - University of IowaScott J LaCombe - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Preprint
- Publication Details
- APSA Preprints
- DOI
- 10.33774/apsa-2022-qbxnk
- Publisher
- American Political Science Association
- Language
- English
- Date posted
- 04/13/2022
- Academic Unit
- Center for Social Science Innovation; Public Policy Center (Archive); Political Science
- Record Identifier
- 9984655956002771
Metrics
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