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For the Many or the Few: The Initiative, Public Policy, and American Democracy (American Politics and Political Economy)by John G. Matsusaka
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:Direct democracy is alive and well in the United States. Citizens are increasingly using initiatives and referendums to take the law into their own hands, overriding their elected officials to set tax, expenditure, and social policies. John G. Matsusaka's For the Many or the Few provides the first even-handed and historically based treatment of the subject. Drawing upon a century of evidence, Matsusaka argues against the popular belief that initiative measures are influenced by wealthy special interest groups that neglect the majority view. Examining demographic, political, and opinion data, he demonstrates how the initiative process brings about systematic changes in tax and expenditure policies of state and local governments that are generally supported by the citizens. He concludes that, by and large, direct democracy in the form of the initiative process works for the benefit of the many rather than the few. An unprecedented, comprehensive look at the historical, empirical, and theoretical components of how initiatives function within our representative democracy to increase political competition while avoiding the tyranny of the majority, For the Many or the Few is a most timely and definitive work. Review:"A pleasure to read. I can only recommend it to anyone who wants to learn something about democracy." Review:"A nice piece of research with many good findings and valuable data. For the Many or the Few extends the analysis of the fiscal effects of the initiative process in an important way by asking whether the policies that are produced in initiative states are more or less majoritarian. Matsusaka looks at the policies implemented in a clear and non-technical manner."--Bruce Cain, coauthor of Congressional Redistricting Review:"A remarkable achievement. This is the first comprehensive scientific examination of how voter initiatives affect public policy in the United States. This extremely well-written book deserves attention not only from academics but also from anyone who cares about direct democracys impact on public policy. It is essential reading for those who want to battle long-standing conjectures about the initiative process with systematic evidence."--Arthur Lupia, coauthor of Stealing the Initiative: How State Government Responds to Direct Democracy Review:"A nice piece of research with many good findings and valuable data. For the Many or the Few extends the analysis of the fiscal effects of the initiative process in an important way by asking whether the policies that are produced in initiative states are more or less majoritarian. Matsusaka looks at the policies implemented in a clear and non-technical manner."--Bruce Cain, coauthor of Congressional Redistricting Review:"For the Many or the Few is a valuable contribution to our understanding of American democratic institutions and public policy, and an important book."-Journal of Politics Review:"Matsusakas scholarly masterpiece arrives at a critical time when advances in telecommunications technology make the adoption of direct democracy mechanisms more feasible than ever before. His diligently constructed analysis of data for the twentieth century presents the facts required to evlauate the effects of the initiative process and whether it promotes policies desired by citizens."--W. Mark Crain, Volatile States: Institutions, Policy, and the Performaace of American State Economies About the AuthorJohn G. Matsusaka is a professor in the Marshall School of Business, Gould School of Law, and in the Department of Political Science at the University of Southern California. He is also president of the Initiative & Referendum Institute. Table of ContentsPreface
1. An American Institution 2. A Blizzard of Data Part I - The Evidence 3. Spending and Taxes, 1970-2000 4. For the Many or the Few 5. Conservative or Liberal Part II - Explaining the Facts 6. When Legislators Get Out of Step 7. Key Episodes in the Twentieth Century Part III - Open Questions 8. Majority Tyranny and the Constitution 9. Delegation, Information, and Competition Appendix 1. Initiative Provisions in States, 1898-2003 Appendix 2. Initiative Provisions in the Twenty Largest Cities, 2000 Appendix 3. Data Definitions and Sources Appendix 4. Critical Notes on the Empirical Literature Notes References Index What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
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