Entry:

Ostheimer, John M. and Ritt, Leonard G., "Abundance and American Democracy: A Test of Dire Predictions," Journal of Politics, 44 (May, 1982), 365-387.

Abstract:

Self-perceived financial decline is found to be related to a weakening of attitudes most supportive of democracy, but not to political behavior. Thus the assertion that declining abundance will adversely affect democracy stands, but may need to be refined to include the mediating effects of attitudes.

GSS Years:

1972-78

Other Data Sets:

Yankelovich 1980

GSS Codebook Variables referenced by document:
Variable Name	Variable Label

FINALTER	CHANGE IN FINANCIAL SITUATION
REGION	REGION OF INTERVIEW
SEX	RESPONDENTS SEX
INCOME	TOTAL FAMILY INCOME
EDUC	HIGHEST YEAR OF SCHOOL COMPLETED
AGE	AGE OF RESPONDENT
RACE	RACE OF RESPONDENT
POLVIEWS	THINK OF SELF AS LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE
PARTYID	POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION
VOTE72	DID R VOTE IN 1972 ELECTION
VOTE76	DID R VOTE IN 1976 ELECTION
MEMNUM	NUMBER OF MEMBERSHIPS
SPKATH	ALLOW ANTI-RELIGIONIST TO SPEAK
SPKCOM	ALLOW COMMUNIST TO SPEAK
SPKHOMO	ALLOW HOMOSEXUAL TO SPEAK
COLATH	ALLOW ANTI-RELIGIONIST TO TEACH
COLCOM	SHOULD COMMUNIST TEACHER BE FIRED
COLHOMO	ALLOW HOMOSEXUAL TO TEACH
LIBATH	ALLOW ANTI-RELIGIOUS BOOK IN LIBRARY
LIBCOM	ALLOW COMMUNISTS BOOK IN LIBRARY
LIBHOMO	ALLOW HOMOSEXUALS BOOK IN LIBRARY
ALIENAT1	PEOPLE RUNNING COUNTRY DONT CARE
ALIENAT2	"RICH GET RICHER
ALIENAT3	WHAT YOU THINK DOESNT COUNT
ALIENAT4	YOU'RE LEFT OUT OF THINGS
ALIENAT5	POWERFUL PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU
ALIENAT6	PEOPLE IN WASH D.C. ARE OUT OF TOUCH
ANOMIA7	OFFICIALS NOT INTERESTED IN AVERAGE MAN
FAIR	PEOPLE FAIR OR TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
HELPFUL	PEOPLE HELPFUL OR LOOKING OUT FOR SELVES
TRUST	CAN PEOPLE BE TRUSTED
CONFED	CONFID. IN EXEC BRANCH OF FED GOVT
CONLEGIS	CONFIDENCE IN CONGRESS
CONJUDGE	CONFID. IN UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT