Blocking and pushing are observationally separable forms of affluent influence

Evidence

We can see if the better responsiveness to high-­income citizens observed in previous research is due to them being able to block changes they do not want (low numbers in category B) or to them being able to push through changes they do want (high numbers in category D). — Mikael Persson and Anders Sundell, Blocking the Poor, 41

Categorization

• QUESTION: Open empirical question the framework is built to answer: is affluent advantage mostly a veto, or also a positive agenda? Prior research can’t tell them apart.
• XREF: Speaks directly to the Gilens and Bartels debates on unequal responsiveness in US policy. — connects to: Affluent Americans shape policy adoption far more than interest-group support does. — Martin Gilens and Benjamin I. Page, Testing Theories of American Politics:…, 98