Throwing the rascals out is tricky, but not impossible

It is a commonly understood feature of democratic political systems that under-performing governments tend to be ejected by voters in favour of the most palatable alternative, but is that really the case? Catherine E. de Vries, drawing on new research, argues that voter sophistication and issue salience each play a key role, concluding that incumbent governments can expect to earn credit for favourable, or blame for unsatisfactory, policy outcomes.