Who Owns What, and Why? The Origins of Issue Ownership Beliefs

Abstract

Most research on issue ownership examines the topic as an independent variable that may shape campaign strategy or voter behavior. In contrast, our study looks at ownership as a dependent variable. Specifically, we employ a national Internet survey of registered U.S. voters to gauge the extent to which such judgments are influenced by individual‐level factors other than partisan identity. We find that while partisanship shapes ownership beliefs to a considerable degree, policy preferences and performance evaluations have significant effects across a range of valence and position issues. While feelings of ambivalence toward the in‐ or out‐party do not have a consistent effect on ownership beliefs, higher out‐party ambivalence reduces the probability that citizens will identify their own party as owning most issues. It is therefore premature, and probably incorrect, to assume that perceived ownership is little more than an expression of a person's partisan attachment or intended vote.Related ArticlesBernick, Ethan M., and Nathan Myers. 2012. “Issue Salience, Party Strength, and the Adoption of Health‐Care Expansion Efforts.” Politics & Policy 40 (1): 131‐159. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00340.xGrossmann, Matt. 2014. “The Varied Effects of Policy Cues on Partisan Opinions.” Politics & Policy 42 (6): 881‐904. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12102Kim, Eun Kyung. 2019. “Issue Ownership and Strategic Policy Choice in Multiparty Africa.” Politics & Policy 47 (5): 956‐983. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12327Related MediaBrenan, Megan. 2019. “Democrats Maintain Favorability Edge over Republicans.” September 30. https://news.gallup.com/poll/267122/democrats-maintain-favorability-edge-republicans.aspxHook, Janet. 2018. “Tax Overhaul Remains Unpopular, Poll Shows.” April 16. https://www.wsj.com/articles/tax-overhaul-remains-unpopular-poll-shows-1523912555Pew Research Center. 2015. “GOP’s Favorability Rating Takes a Negative Turn.” July 23. https://www.people-press.org/2015/07/23/gops-favorability-rating-takes-a-negative-turn/