Description
Book SynopsisAmerican public policy has become demonstrably more conservative since the 1960s. In demonstrating a strong link between public opinion and policy outcomes, this book represents a substantial contribution to the study of public opinion and voting behavior, policy, and American politics generally.
Trade Review"Hetherington is making a marked reversal from the way the concept is typically treated by scholars... This careful, multipronged approach yields a persuasive case for treating political trust as an independent variable with important ramifications for the study of public opinion and public policy."--Sean Aday, Public Opinion Quarterly "Marc Hetherington['s] ... wonderful new book ... is recommended because it will spark many lively discussions that will remind readers what drew them to political science in the first place."--William Cunion, White House Studies
Table of ContentsList of Figures ix List of Tables xi Acknowledgments xiii CHAPTER ONE: Why Political Trust Matters 1 CHAPTER TWO: Political Trust and Its Evolution 8 CHAPTER THREE: Political Distrust, Not Conservatism 36 CHAPTER FOUR: The Dynamic Importance of Political Trust 62 CHAPTER FIVE: Political Trust and Public Support for Government Spending 75 CHAPTER SIX: Political Trust and the Racial Policy Preferences of Whites 99 CHAPTER SEVEN: Political Trust and the Demise of Health Care Reform 120 CHAPTER EIGHT: Political Trust and the Future of American Politics 138 Notes 155 References 163 Index 171
