Laboratories of Democratic Backsliding

The Trump presidency generated concern about democratic backsliding and renewed interest in measuring the national performance of United States. However, US has a decentralized form federalism that administers institutions at state level. Using 51 indicators electoral democracy from 2000 to 2018, I develop measure subnational performance, State Democracy Index. then test theories expansion based party competition, polarization, demographic change, group interests coalitions. Difference-in-differences results suggest minimal role for all factors except Republican control government, which dramatically reduces states’ during this period. This result calls into question focused on changes within states. racial, geographic, economic incentives groups coalitions may instead determine health