Party competition fundamentally shapes modern politics and influences policy outcomes across the board. Conventional wisdom suggests heightened party rivalry stimulates more liberal policymaking as competing parties attempt to attract supporters from marginalized groups.

The authors refine this classic perspective by distinguishing between social and economic policies—arguing that these two domains may respond differently to competitive pressures in the political arena.

Their analysis reveals robust evidence: increased competition strongly correlates with greater economic liberalism. However, for social policies, findings are less conclusive. Importantly, they observe shifts over time:

• The link between party competition and policy liberalism has evolved significantly across several decades.

This nuanced understanding offers insights into how political dynamics interact differently with various aspects of governance.