ELECTORAL SUPPORT FOR TAX CUTS - A CASE-STUDY OF THE 1980 AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL-ELECTION

The 1980 American presidential election, in which Ronald Reagan pledge d to cut federal income taxes by 30%, provides a case study for the el ectoral impact of tax cuts and the sources of voter support for tax cu ts. Probit estimation of a model of the 1980 Carter-Reagan vote reveal s that voter preferences on the tax cut are closely associated with in dividual vote choice. Nearly as many voters opposed as supported Reaga n's tax plan, giving him no net increase in his vote share. Individual preferences on the tax cut are more closely associated with expectati ons about the economic effects of the cut than with race, income, part isanship, or candidate evaluations. Trust in government is also closel y related to preferences on the tax cut. Voter support for the 1980 Re agan tax cut was not part of a broad-based tax revolt; rather, it appe aled to voters as a policy prescription for solving other, more import ant economic problems.