Live Poster Session: Zoom Link
Abstract: There is a well-established link between socioeconomic status and political efficacy within the United States. Individuals without access to the necessary monetary resources, education, and social network to participate as frequently as their wealthier counterparts in the political process tend to internalize these barriers and become “less likely to believe they can influence political decisions” (Laurison, 2016). These individuals may also feel that the government is not responsive to public demand, losing trust in the system. Other work has researched the relationship between political efficacy and race, finding that political efficacy increases for individuals who have a common identity with officials in office, though whether this extends to the federal government or remains true only for local government is contested (West, 2017; Bobo & Gilliam, 1990). Political efficacy promotes greater political participation and therefore is crucial to legitimate democracy. This analysis compares political efficacy across racial/ethnic groups within the lower-, working-, and middle-class in 2012 to see how political efficacy differs. In this study, White participants in these classes consistently experienced significantly lower political efficacy than Black participants, and race/ethnicity was found to be a strong predictor for political efficacy, even when considering political party association and education level. The discussion will explore the theoretical and political implications of these findings.
Cecilia-Smith-QAC201-PosterFINAL