Federalism and American Inequality

Kelly, Nathan J.; Witko, Christopher

doi:10.1017/s0022381611001678

Cited by 139 publications

(170 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Although our findings are in line with others that have examined the role of federalism and inequality (e.g., Kelly and Witko 2012), our study moves beyond this work by examining the policy mechanisms that link political decisions with levels of inequality. While previous research finds policies such as the minimum wage can influence inequality, our results find a much wider array of policy tools available to state policymakers can influence state-level inequality.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…There are, however, many layers of government at which policymakers can respond to problems such as economic inequality in a federal system. In certain cases, the national government provides incentives for states to redistribute incomes (e.g., Peterson 1995), and states may have become more active in influencing economic inequality since the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994 and devolution that has followed (Kelly and Witko 2012;Winston 2002 This study moves beyond previous research and examines the policy mechanisms that link political decisions with levels of inequality. We examine the extent to which state governments (through fiscal policy measures) influence economic inequality-by not only examining statelevel inequality but also the average family incomes of various economic groups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fiscal Policy and Economic Inequality in the U.S. States

Hayes

Vidal

2015

Political Research Quarterly

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To what extent can state governments influence economic inequality? How do state fiscal policies of redistribution affect families in different economic situations? Using a large database of state fiscal policymaking tools (taxing and spending) between 1976 and 2006, we examine the effect of these tools on state-level inequality as well as the average incomes of families in different economic groups. We find that state taxing and spending efforts can influence these indicators of economic inequality, though these fiscal policy tools can have differential effects. Spending on unemployment compensation and cash assistance as well as revenue from taxes on corporations is found to reduce state-level inequality. We also find unemployment compensation to positively benefit the bottom 10th percentile of income earners, whereas the inheritance tax helps all income groups. Corporate tax revenue is associated with higher middle-class incomes, whereas income tax revenue benefits both middle and upper incomes. Sales tax revenue positively benefits wealthy earners. Higher property tax revenue is associated with decreased income for all groups. These results suggest that state governments can affect redistribution through fiscal policies by affecting state-level inequality as well as the economic fortunes of different income groups.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fiscal Policy and Economic Inequality in the U.S. States

Hayes

Vidal

2015

Political Research Quarterly

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“…The Power Resources Theory (PRT) argues that countries with strong left parties who represent working and middle classes' interests will have a more generous welfare state (Stephens, 1976;Korpi, 1978;Huber & Stephens, 2001;Bradley, Huber, Moller, Nielsen, & Stephens, 2003;Huber, Nielsen, Pribble, & Stephens, 2006 Kelly and Witko, 2012).…”

Section: Control Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compensation or Retrenchment? The Paradox of Immigration and Public Welfare Spending in the American States

2017

State Politics Policy Q.

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By using American state-level data from 1999 to 2008, this article explores how the recent immigrant influx has influenced public welfare spending in the American states. By integrating the race/ethnicity and globalization compensation theory, I hypothesize that immigration will increase welfare spending in states with a bleak job market and exclusive state immigrant welfare policy; in contrast, immigration will decrease welfare spending in states with a good job market and inclusive state immigrant welfare policy. Empirical tests show evidence for both hypotheses, suggesting that the applicability of general political science theories depends on a combination of state policy and economic contexts.

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“…33 Bechtel and Fuss 2010;Den Hartog and Monroe 2008;Jayachandran 2006;Grant and Wallace 1994. 34 Bartels 2008;Fowler 2006;Grant and Wallace 1994;Hibbs 1977;Hirano and Snyder 2007;Jacobs 2008;Kelly 2009;Kelly and Witko 2012;Volscho and Kelly 2012. 35 Evans and Tilly 2012;Hellwig 2008;Hellwig, Ringsmuth, and Freeman 2011.…”

Section: Parties Organized Interests and Financializationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Politics of Financialization in the United States, 1949–2005

Witko¹

2014

Brit. J. Polit. Sci.

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Financial activity has become increasingly important in affluent economies in recent decades. Because this ‘financialization’ distributes costs and benefits unevenly across groups, politics and policy likely affect the process. Therefore, this article discusses how changes in the power of organizations representing the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ of financialization affect its pace. An analysis of the United States from 1949–2005, shows that when unions are stronger, and when the Democratic Party is in power and is more reliant on the support of working-class voters, financialization is slower. In contrast, when the financial industry is more highly mobilized into politics, financialization is faster. The study also finds that financial deregulation was one policy translating the political power of these actors into economic outcomes.

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Federalism and American Inequality

Cited by 139 publications

References 31 publications

Fiscal Policy and Economic Inequality in the U.S. States

Fiscal Policy and Economic Inequality in the U.S. States

Compensation or Retrenchment? The Paradox of Immigration and Public Welfare Spending in the American States

The Politics of Financialization in the United States, 1949–2005

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