Solvent effects on the copolymerization of styrene and maleic anhydride are interpreted in terms of Harwood’s bootstrap effect. Earlier observations that this comonomer pair behaves according to the bootstrap effect are confirmed. Furthermore, solvent effects on stereochemical configuration can be interpreted in terms of the bootstrap effect as well. The observation that the Z/E ratio of the anhydride units versus copolymer composition is independent of solvent is attributed to monomer partitioning between the bulk of the solution and the locus of polymerization.