Determinants of Home Style: The Many Incentives for Going Home in Colombia

• DOI: 10.2307/440333
• Publication Date: 2007-02-02T22:40:39Z
• Authors: Rachael E. Ingall; Brian F. Crisp
• Keywords: 05 social sciences; 16. Peace & justice; 0506 political science

A legislator's behavior in his or her electoral district, home style, reveals much about awareness of constituents' wishes and the importance attributed to district matters. Legislators who frequently travel represent their constituents differently than those do not. In Latin American country Colombia, style is a contentious issue. The plagued by violence corruption, but national legislature devotes its time pork barrel politics. We use data from presidential democracy, test competing explanations evaluating several political factors as determinants variation legislators' propensity go home. find that higher magnitudes, spatially concentrated vote patterns, failure solidify electorally dominated bailiwicks, invulnerability all contribute fixation on concerns. If needed reforms are succeed, reform-minded presidents will need allies relatively less likely focus