HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS AND CALIFORNIA POLITICS - AN EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS

The author examines the rapid spread of common interest housing develo pments (CIDs) throughout much of California in recent years and the po tential consequences of that phenomenon for electoral politics. Coveri ng 34 counties, the analysis includes census data, construction indust ry data, and results from the statewide general election of 1994. The study supports the view that considerations of land economics that aff ect developers and fiscal constraints that affect local governments ar e the dominant forces behind the spread of CID housing. The study also suggests that this form of privatization may have underappreciated im plications for electoral and interest group politics at the state and local levels.