Title: The Myth of Deliverism: The Limited Electoral Benefits of Policy Feedback
By Chloe Thurston, Associate Professor of Political Science and IPR Fellow
Abstract: Recent debates about governance often assume that parties win elections by delivering tangible policy benefits to voters. This belief—termed deliverism—draws on insights from scholarship on policy feedback, which shows that public policies can shape political attitudes and participation. Yet the electoral returns to policy delivery are often more limited than this perspective suggests. This talk describes several features of democratic politics that weaken the potential link between policy success and partisan electoral gains. Voters frequently lack the information necessary to attribute policies to particular parties, rely on partisan cues and identities when evaluating politics, and may credit individual politicians or local actors rather than governing coalitions. Evidence from historical and contemporary research—including studies of major social policies—suggests that even visible and popular programs rarely produce durable electoral advantages. The talk concludes by identifying new directions for research on the relationship between public policy, party development, and electoral politics.
This event is part of the Fay Lomax Cook Spring 2026 Colloquium Series, where our researchers from around the University share their latest policy-relevant research.
Please note all colloquia this quarter will be held in-person only.
Madeleine Bagnall
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