The impact of occupational background on issue representation

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Jan A. Velimsky
  • Sebastian Block
  • Martin Gross
  • Dominic Nyhuis

Research Organisations

External Research Organisations

  • University of Stuttgart
  • Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)
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Details

Original languageEnglish
JournalWest European Politics
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 22 Jan 2024

Abstract

Descriptive representation matters for substantive representation. Yet, one key legislator characteristic has received comparatively little attention in research on substantive representation: the occupational background of members of parliament. In this article, it is argued that occupational background shapes patterns of representation since the choice of occupation both indicates certain interests while also generating expertise in issues related to the job. In order to assess this proposition, there is an analysis of whether local councillors’ occupations affect their issue emphasis in the local council and to what extent this effect is moderated by parties’ issue saliences. Empirically, the study focuses on local councillors’ issue emphasis using data on 1,269 local councillors in Germany between 2011 and 2020. The results have important implications for understanding local councillors’ descriptive and substantive representation as they show that occupation matters: councillors emphasise issues related to their occupation more often than other representatives.

Keywords

    descriptive representation, Germany, Issue representation, occupation, parliamentary questions, substantive representation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cite this

The impact of occupational background on issue representation. / Velimsky, Jan A.; Block, Sebastian; Gross, Martin et al.
In: West European Politics, 22.01.2024.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Velimsky, J. A., Block, S., Gross, M., & Nyhuis, D. (2024). The impact of occupational background on issue representation. West European Politics. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2023.2294666
Velimsky JA, Block S, Gross M, Nyhuis D. The impact of occupational background on issue representation. West European Politics. 2024 Jan 22. Epub 2024 Jan 22. doi: 10.1080/01402382.2023.2294666
Velimsky, Jan A. ; Block, Sebastian ; Gross, Martin et al. / The impact of occupational background on issue representation. In: West European Politics. 2024.
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