Abstract
This paper comparatively examines two highly decentralized federations, namely Brazil and the United States (U.S.) The study uses a combination of methods to determine which mechanisms explain the spread of metropolitan regions (Brazil) and the growth of the statewide smoking ban (U.S.) among state governments over the 1990s and 2000s. It uses Weibull distribution and Cox regression to measure the time until events occur and to estimate the influence of a variety of factors on the likelihood of two policies being adopted. I find evidence of electoral-year drive policy diffusion in both countries. In Brazil, a key structural variable associated with internal determinants stimulated metropolitan policy adoptions. In the U.S., structural factors – linked with citizen ideology – enhance the probability of enacting smoke-free laws.
Highlights
In recent decades, federal systems have increased the number and strengthened the design of public policies
This paper comparatively examines two highly decentralized federations, namely Brazil and the United States (U.S.) The study uses a combination of methods to determine which mechanisms explain the spread of metropolitan regions (Brazil) and the growth of the statewide smoking ban (U.S.) among state governments over the 1990s and 2000s
I have shown that, like the U.S, Brazilian state governments experienced the adoption of institutional innovation among themselves
Summary
Federal systems have increased the number and strengthened the design of public policies. The central argument of this study is that, while both countries have remarkable distinctions between state governments, specific innovations may influence similar political behavior and institutions. The percentage of adults who smoke can influence state legislative actions (Berry et al, 2007; McCann et al, 2015; Shipan & Volden, 2006) Following these studies, I expect that more liberal states might pass such a law because its citizens are more inclined to support collective health policies. To explore the politics of policy diffusion, as proposed in this study, I focus on two different contexts to check which determinants explain the spread of metropolitan regions and statewide smoking-ban laws.
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