When Collective Leaders Face Individual Responsibility: A Puzzle in Political Accountability

This article examines how citizens attribute responsibility to collective decision-makers. Using survey data from the US, it explores whether individuals prefer assigning blame solely to group leaders or distributing it across members.

Through empirical analysis and conceptual arguments, the paper shows that partisan cues significantly influence this attribution process. Citizens rely on party identity rather than leader actions when determining political accountability.

Findings:

• The representation gap between citizens' preferences and collective outcomes shapes responsibility perceptions
• Partisanship acts as a stronger predictor of blame assignment than leadership quality or policy results

Methods: Statistical analysis based on US survey responses

Implications: This suggests institutional reforms focusing only on individual accountability may be ineffective without addressing the broader dynamics of collective decision-making.