Executive Power and Economic Accountability

Do performance-based rewards and punishments vary with presidents' legislative powers? Are presidents who frequently rule by decree held more accountable for outcomes? In this paper we theorize that accountability varies systematically with the powers presidents enjoy and how they use them. We test our expectations with survey data from 18 Latin American countries. Results indicate that individuals' evaluations of the economy have more bearing on presidential approval where the president has strong legislative powers and where the president makes frequent use of decrees. These findings underscore how power and agency shape accountability and the psychological processes behind the actions of principals in this principal-agent relationship.