State-Level Perspectives on Industrial Policy: The Views of Legislators and Bureaucrats

Economic development has emerged as a major function of state government in recent years. Using a nationwide mail survey, this article examines the economic development views of both legislators and bureaucrats in the states. It tests the role-convergence hypothesis that states that, because of institutional changes such as the growing professionalization of legislatures, legislators and bureaucrats are likely to have similar policy views. The hypothesis is confirmed in regard to conventional "smokestack chasing"economic development policies and also for some "industrial policy" proposals, but legislators are found to be more supportive of the more "innovative" policies. Continuing differences in the legislative and bureaucratic roles seem to explain the greater tendency for legislators to endorse newer, untested, and hence riskier policy alternatives.