Federalism and low-maintenance constituencies: Territorial dimensions of economic reform in Argentina

This paper examines the electoral dynamics of market reform in Argentina between 1989 and 1995. It provides insights into the way that the distribution of economic and institutional resources in federal systems shapes policy making and coalition building options for reformist governments. The electo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Studies in comparative international development 2000-10, Vol.35 (3), p.32-55
Main Authors: Gibson, Edward L, Calvo, Ernesto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Argentina
Capitalism
Center and Periphery
Coalitions
Constituencies
Costs
Democracy
Democratization
Economic aspects
Economic Change
Economic development
Economic reform
Elections
Electoral pacts
Federalism
Geographic Distribution
Industrial production
Market Economy
Patronage
Policy Making
Political aspects
Political Change
Political economy
Political parties
Political power
Politics
Population
Programmes
Provinces
Public expenditure
Regions
Statistical analysis
Subsidies
Territorial politics
Urban areas
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Summary:This paper examines the electoral dynamics of market reform in Argentina between 1989 and 1995. It provides insights into the way that the distribution of economic and institutional resources in federal systems shapes policy making and coalition building options for reformist governments. The electoral viability of the governing Peronist Party during the economic reform period was facilitated by the regional phasing of the costs of market reform. Structural reforms were concentrated primarily on economically developed regions of the country, while public spending and patronage in economically marginal but politically overrepresented regions sustained support for the governing party. Statistical analyses contrast patterns of spending and public sector employment in metropolitan and peripheral regions of the country during the reform period, as well as the social bases of electoral support in those regions.
ISSN:0039-3606
1936-6167
DOI:10.1007/bf02699765