Does Anyone Care about the Poor? The Role of Redistribution in Mayoral Policy Agendas

Abstract

Income inequality is widening in the United States, particularly in large cities. This study analyzes whether mayors address this issue through redistributive policies or economic development. State of the City addresses from 45 of the 50 largest cities were examined using the Policy Agendas framework. The findings show that mayors favor economic development over redistribution. There is no evidence that demographic characteristics of cities affect a mayor’s attention to social welfare programs. Mayors focusing on economic development come from poorer and more conservative cities. A large negative effect is found on economic development attention for segregated and highly nonwhite cities.