Gender and opinion–policy congruence in Europe

Abstract

Does public policy in Europe reflect women’s preferences equally well as men’s? This study compares the opinions of women and men with concrete policy on a set of 20 issues across a diverse range of policy areas in 31 European countries. It shows that the majorities of men and women frequently prefer the same policy. However, when they disagree, men’s preferences are more likely to be represented. Neither the proportion of women in parliament nor the left–right orientation of the government explains variation in women’s policy representation. Instead, a higher number of parliamentary parties increase the likelihood that policy reflects women’s views. This effect does not seem to be driven by left-libertarian politics or Green parties, even though women’s stronger support for ‘new politics’ issues is an important source of disagreement between men and women.

Mind This Gap, Too: Political Orientations of People with Disabilities in Europe

“…As for external efficacy, citizens have been argued and shown to perceive members of their own social groups as more accessible, open to communication, and responsive (e.g., Atkeson and Carrillo 2007;Bobo and Gilliam 1990;Banducci et al 2004;Fenno 1978;Gay 2002;Mansbridge 1999). Although the evidence on the relationship between the descriptive and substantive representation Pitkin (1967) of a social group is mixed (e.g., Bratton and Ray 2002;Kittilson 2008;Reher 2018;Schwindt-Bayer and Mishler 2005), the argument that political elites from a social group are often better at representing the group's interests due to shared experiences remains pervasive (Phillips 1995;Mansbridge 1999). The use of the slogan "Nothing About Us Without Us" by disability rights organizations since the 1990s can be seen as an indication that many people with disabilities 1 3…”

Discreet Inequality: How Party Agendas Embrace Privileged Interests

“… 7. This contributes to the gender literature on policy representation, which has not consistently found bias against women (Bernauer et al, 2015; Dingler et al, 2019; Griffin et al, 2012; Reher, 2018). My results for the agenda stage draw a less reassuring picture.…”

“…Beginning in the United States, researchers detected that democratic institutions fail to aggregate the preferences of different subconstituencies equally into collectively binding decisions, with lower classes and racial minorities often neglected (e.g., Bartels, 2008; Beramendi & Anderson, 2008; Enns & Wlezien, 2011; Gilens, 2012; Griffin & Newman, 2008; Jacobs & Skocpol, 2005; Schumaker & Getter, 1977). Comparative research followed suit to document unequal representation with regard to socioeconomic status and gender in European democracies (e.g., Bernauer et al, 2015; Donnelly & Lefkofridi, 2014; Giger et al, 2012; McEvoy, 2012; Peters & Ensink, 2015; Piketty, 2019; Reher, 2018; Rosset et al, 2013).…”

Cómo medir la congruencia comparando tres medidas en América Central

“…Históricamente, los estudios de congruencia se han centrado en las democracias industriales avanzadas Blais y Bodet, 2006;Golder y Stramski, 2010;Huber y Powell, 1994;Powell, 2009;Reher, 2018;Thomassen, 1999). Recientemente, con la creciente disponibilidad de nuevas fuentes confiables de datos de élites y de opinión pública de las democra-1 Queremos agradecer a Fabrice Lehoucq, a Lars G. Svåsand, a Michelle Taylor-Robinson, a los participantes del Workshop del Grupo de Investigación de Élites y Partidos Políticos (GREP) en el Instituto de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales de Barcelona (ICPS) y a los participantes del Seminario de Opinión Pública en América Latina del Instituto de Iberoamérica de la Universidad de Salamanca sus comentarios a las versiones anteriores del manuscrito.…”

“…Historically, studies of congruence have focused on advanced industrial democracies Powell, 2009;Reher, 2018;Thomassen, 1999). Recently, with the increasing availability of new reliable sources of elite and public opinion data from third wave democracies, scholars have been more likely to use similar approaches Real-Dato, 2018;Tsatsanis et al, 2014).…”