Abstract
We model correlated voter-candidate issue data within the framework of the Enelow-Hinich spatial model of predictive dimensions. The empirical consequences of this model of the issue data are surprising and allow for an indirect test of the Enelow-Hinich spatial model. The central prediction of the correlated data model we construct, which depends critically on the underlying spatial model, is tested with issue data from the 1980 NES pre-election interview. The test results are highly supportive of the model's predictions. We conclude both that the spatial model of predictive dimensions is empirically supported and that candidate spatial locations estimated by the model are not an artifact of correlated voter-candidate issue data.
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The authors wish to thank Ben Page, Eric Devereux, and an anonymous referee for their helpful comments. An earlier draft of the paper was delivered at the 1989 Public Choice Society Meetings, Orlando, Florida. This work was partially supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant # SES 8310591.
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Enelow, J.M., Hinich, M.J. A test of the predictive dimensions model in spatial voting theory. Public Choice 78, 155–169 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01050392
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01050392