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@article{ART002863819},
author={Miong-sei Kang},
title={Affective Polarization, Policy versus Party: The 2020 US Presidential Election},
journal={Analyses & Alternatives},
issn={2508-822X},
year={2022},
volume={6},
number={2},
pages={79-115},
doi={10.22931/aanda.2022.6.2.003}

TY - JOUR
AU - Miong-sei Kang
TI - Affective Polarization, Policy versus Party: The 2020 US Presidential Election
JO - Analyses & Alternatives
PY - 2022
VL - 6
IS - 2
PB - Korea Consensus Institute
SP - 79
EP - 115
SN - 2508-822X
AB - This study aims to account for electoral choice in the 2020 presidential election by focusing on social identity which forms the basis for core partisan groups. Two views compete to explain the origins of polarization, policy versus party. One emphasizes policy as more influential in choosing presidential candidates. This follows the tradition of retrospective voting theory in which voters’ choice rely on government performance. Incumbent president whose performance proves well are rewarded to be reelected. Policy performance is based on measures around distinctive preferences for government spending. Republican Individuals prefer individual responsibility to government support, while Democratic counterparts support government support. Another perspective put an emphasis on the role partisanship which favors in-party members and disfavors partisan out-groups. Interparty animosity plays the key role in determining electoral behavior. This study relies on the Views of the Electorate Research (VOTER) Survey which provides a panel data of several waves from 2011 to 2020. A comparative evaluation of two views highlights three findings. First, policy matters. Policy preferences of voters are the primary drives of political behavior. Electoral outcomes in 2020 turned out to be the results of policy considerations of voters. 53.7 percent of voters tilted toward individual responsibility voted for Trump, whereas 70.4 percent of those favorable views of government support than individual responsibility voted for Biden. Thus effects of policy correspond to a positive difference of 26.4 percent points. Second, partisanship effects are of similar extent in influencing electoral choice of candidates: Democrats are less likely to vote for Trump by 42.4 percent points, while Republicans are less likely to vote for Biden by 48.7 percent points. Third, animosity of Republicans toward Democrat core groups creates 26.5 percent points of favoring Trump over Biden. Democrat animosity toward Republican core groups creates a positive difference of 13.7 percent points of favoring Biden.
KW - Animosity;Polarization;Policy;Partisanship
DO - 10.22931/aanda.2022.6.2.003
ER -

Miong-sei Kang. (2022). Affective Polarization, Policy versus Party: The 2020 US Presidential Election. Analyses & Alternatives, 6(2), 79-115.

Miong-sei Kang. 2022, "Affective Polarization, Policy versus Party: The 2020 US Presidential Election", Analyses & Alternatives, vol.6, no.2 pp.79-115. Available from: doi:10.22931/aanda.2022.6.2.003

Miong-sei Kang "Affective Polarization, Policy versus Party: The 2020 US Presidential Election" Analyses & Alternatives 6.2 pp.79-115 (2022) : 79.

Miong-sei Kang. Affective Polarization, Policy versus Party: The 2020 US Presidential Election. 2022; 6(2), 79-115. Available from: doi:10.22931/aanda.2022.6.2.003

Miong-sei Kang. "Affective Polarization, Policy versus Party: The 2020 US Presidential Election" Analyses & Alternatives 6, no.2 (2022) : 79-115.doi: 10.22931/aanda.2022.6.2.003

Miong-sei Kang. Affective Polarization, Policy versus Party: The 2020 US Presidential Election. Analyses & Alternatives, 6(2), 79-115. doi: 10.22931/aanda.2022.6.2.003

Miong-sei Kang. Affective Polarization, Policy versus Party: The 2020 US Presidential Election. Analyses & Alternatives. 2022; 6(2) 79-115. doi: 10.22931/aanda.2022.6.2.003

Miong-sei Kang. Affective Polarization, Policy versus Party: The 2020 US Presidential Election. 2022; 6(2), 79-115. Available from: doi:10.22931/aanda.2022.6.2.003

Miong-sei Kang. "Affective Polarization, Policy versus Party: The 2020 US Presidential Election" Analyses & Alternatives 6, no.2 (2022) : 79-115.doi: 10.22931/aanda.2022.6.2.003