Public Support for Cross-Issue Compromises in the U.S.

You’re invited to join Daniel J. Hopkins, Julie and Martin Franklin Presidential Professor in the Political Science Department at the University of Pennsylvania, for an American Politics Speaker Series discussion sponsored by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation and the Center for American Political Studies.

Registration is encouraged but not required. This event series will not be recorded.

This event is open to Harvard ID holders only. Lunch will be served.

Abstract

In theory, cross-issue compromises could facilitate policy reforms, as multiple groups can win on an issue they prioritize. But under what conditions do Americans support them? Prior research identifies several hypotheses about support for such compromises and its underlying mechanisms, from ideological extremity and partisan asymmetry to the presence of moral issues. To test them, we employ five surveys with 6,424 respondents fielded by Civiqs, NORC, and YouGov between 2020 and 2023. Overall, some cross-issue compromises can win substantial public support. Partisan asymmetries when respondents are asked about compromise abstractly disappear when they face concrete trade-offs. However, we detect meaningful loss aversion. Also, political donors show less support for compromises, as do those who would lose on an issue they deem important. While many respondents back compromises, there remain demand-side barriers to compromise among an influential segment of citizens.

About the Series

The United States is a crossroads. How can Americans connect to each other in deep and meaningful ways, despite holding drastically different political world views? What are the causes and consequences of our nation’s historic levels of partisan polarization? Just how far can democratic backsliding go? The American Politics Speaker Series (APSS) aims to bring together scholars who are doing research on these and other important questions. Hosted jointly with the Center for American Political Studies and chaired by Professors Benjamin Schneer and Justin de Benedictis-Kessner, each session will highlight a scholar whose research is at the forefront of the study of American politics.

Event Details

The Ash Center encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in its events. Should you wish to enquire about an accommodation, please contact our events team at info@ash.harvard.edu prior to the event.