Cao, X and Ward, H (2015) Winning Coalition Size, State Capacity, and Time Horizons: An Application of Modified Selectorate Theory to Environmental Public Goods Provision. International Studies Quarterly, 59 (2). pp. 264-279. DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/isqu.12163
Cao, X and Ward, H (2015) Winning Coalition Size, State Capacity, and Time Horizons: An Application of Modified Selectorate Theory to Environmental Public Goods Provision. International Studies Quarterly, 59 (2). pp. 264-279. DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/isqu.12163
Cao, X and Ward, H (2015) Winning Coalition Size, State Capacity, and Time Horizons: An Application of Modified Selectorate Theory to Environmental Public Goods Provision. International Studies Quarterly, 59 (2). pp. 264-279. DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/isqu.12163
Abstract
Selectorate theory proposes that authoritarian regimes supply fewer public goods than democracies. Smaller winning coalitions make it less costly for autocracies to maintain support among critical groups by providing private goods. Democracies, with large winning coalitions, find it cheaper to provide public goods. In contrast, we argue for a conditional effect of winning coalition size on public good provisions: Many public goods require considerable state capacity to plan, legislate, and implement. Moreover, leaders with short-term horizons are unlikely to invest in public goods that take considerable time to provide. Therefore, our modified selectorate theory suggests that governments will provide public goods if the size of the winning coalition is large enough, state capacity is great enough, and a priori regime durability is long enough. We test our theory on air pollution. While selectorate theory receives little empirical support, our findings cohere with modified selectorate theory. In particular, core democracies?defined as those with large winning coalitions, considerable state capacity, and high regime stability?perform better than autocracies in controlling air pollution.
Item Type: | Article |
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Subjects: | J Political Science > JA Political science (General) |
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences > Government, Department of |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 15 Dec 2014 10:50 |
Last Modified: | 04 Dec 2024 06:45 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/12135 |