Is it Really that Easy? Reconsidering “Easy” and “Hard” Issues in American Politics

• In Event: Measurement Challenges in Public Opinion

Brief Overview

We validate a new measure of “easy” and “hard” policy issues. Issue difficulty consistently varies more between respondents than between issues, and has no effect on party cue-taking. Issue importance dramatically decreases the effect of party cues.

Authors

• Nicholas C Dias, University of Pennsylvania

• Yphtach Lelkes, University of Pennsylvania