What Are the Determinants of Open-Space Ballot Measures? An Extension of the Research
Abstract
Objective. This article comments on the findings of Romero and Liserio's "Saving Open Spaces." Their primary claim is that open-space ballots are not related in any way to actual land-use patterns. Methods. First, I present a number of methodological problems with their approach and demonstrate a sample selection bias using their original data. Second, I present some alternate models using data from 350 municipalities in the greater Philadelphia area. Results. I demonstrate that the sample selection bias in Romero and Liserio's model is so acute that all their parameter estimates are jointly zero. With other data, I find that sprawl votes are related to land-use patterns using a number of different measures. Conclusions. I conclude that open-space votes are related to land-use patterns and that this may be explained as a rational response to sprawl by community planning bureaucracies.
Publication Title
Social Science Quarterly
Recommended Citation
Howell-Moroney, M. (2004). What Are the Determinants of Open-Space Ballot Measures? An Extension of the Research. Social Science Quarterly, 85 (1), 169-179. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0038-4941.2004.08501012.x
