Who influences whom? Inequality in the mutual responsiveness between voters and elites

Abstract

Recent years have seen a proliferation of research on the connection between voters and elites. One literature explores whether elites’ responsiveness is biased towards affluent voters, but does not allow for reverse causality. Another literature investigates voters’ responsiveness to elite cues but pays limited attention to potential inequality in such responsiveness. This study combines insights from both literatures by analysing income inequality in elite responsiveness to voters, and vice versa. It does so using detailed time-series data on citizens’ preferences and party positions towards government spending in the Netherlands. Empirical analyses reveal that there is no exclusive pro-middle or pro-rich bias in voter influence, while adaptation increases with income. The analysis has important implications for the study of representation and inequality and, more broadly, for the relationship between citizens and elites in established democracies.