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Who Are Your Neighbors? The Role of Ideology and Decline of Geographic Proximity in the Diffusion of Policy Innovations

Daniel J. Mallinson · 2019 · Policy Studies Journal

Summary. This study examines how U.S. states adopt policy innovations between 1960 and 2014, analyzing 556 policies to understand what drives adoption decisions. The research finds that ideological similarity between states remains a stable predictor of policy adoption, while geographic proximity to neighboring states has become less influential over time. Political polarization strengthens the role of ideology in shaping which states copy each other's policies.

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Mallinson, D. J.. (2019). Who Are Your Neighbors? The Role of Ideology and Decline of Geographic Proximity in the Diffusion of Policy Innovations. Policy Studies Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/psj.12351

Details

DOI
10.1111/psj.12351
Countries
United States
Regions
North America
Categories
policy, innovation-theory, general-innovation
Added
2026-04-28