1991/06/01 by Larry M. Bartels · 3 citations
Social Sciences · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth #Fiscal Policies and Political Economy
paper · doi:10.2307/1963169
openalex publication_date 1991/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Rrepresentatives' votes on a series of defense budget roll calls in the first year of the Reagan administration's Pentagon buildup are related to constituency opinions on defense spending during the 1980 election campaign. The strong aggregate constituency demand for increased defense spending in 1980 is estimated to have added almost 17 billion (about 10%) to the total fiscal year 1982 Pentagon appropriation. The impact of constituency opinion was largely independent of specific political circumstances: differential responsiveness in districts with partisan turnover, intense districtlevel competition, and strong presidential coattails together accounted for less than 1 billion in additional appropriations, with the remaining 16 billion attributable to across-the-board responsiveness by even the most safely incumbent representatives.