Reexamining the dynamic model of divided partisan government

We reexamine the dynamic model of divided partisan government in the American states developed by Alt and Lowry (2000), a model that purports to provide strong evidence that patterns of partisan control of state government institutions have a substantial impact on state revenues. Given the complexity of the model, however, many of its key implications are not as obvious as they might be. Further, several of these nonobvious implications are, if not implausible, at least inconsistent in light of the larger theory Alt and Lowry explore. We argue, therefore, that the specification of the model is as yet incomplete and both needs and merits further work.