Responsibility attribution in coalition governments: Evidence from Germany

• Mariyana Angelova ^[1] ; Thomas König ^[2] ; Sven-Oliver Proksch ^[3]
  1. [1] University of Vienna

     University of Vienna

     Innere Stadt, Austria

     
  2. [2] University of Mannheim

     University of Mannheim

     Stadtkreis Mannheim, Alemania

     
  3. [3] McGill University

     McGill University

     Canadá

     

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• Localización: Electoral Studies: An international Journal, ISSN 0261-3794, Nº 43, 2016, págs. 133-149
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Models of coalition governance suggest that political parties pursue the interests of their electorate through the ministerial control of policy in their portfolios. Yet, little is known whether voters reward or punish coalition parties for policy performance in their portfolios. This study investigates voters’ evaluations of the policy priorities of coalition parties and their responsibility attribution in twenty policy areas using survey data from Germany. Specifically, we investigate whether voters attribute policy responsibility equally across coalition parties, along the jurisdictional lines of ministerial portfolios, or to the dominant party in the coalition. Our findings suggest that party size, prime minister status, and ministerial portfolios are decisive for responsibility attribution.