Punching above One's Weight: The Case against Election Campaigns

Arbeitspapier

Politicians differ in their ability to implement some policy. In an election, candidates make commitments regarding the plans they will try to implement if elected. These serve as a signal of true ability. In equilibrium, candidates make overambitious promises. The candidate with the highest ability wins. Yet, the electorate may be better off having a random candidate implement her best plan, rather than seeing the winner implementing an overambitious plan. This is more likely if the ability distribution is skewed toward high values, the number of candidates is high, with private benefits from being elected, or if parties select candidates.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper ; No. 10-056/1

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
• Subject: election promises ; signalling ; Politisches Ziel ; Politiker ; Meinung ; Wahlkampf ; Signalling ; Neue politische Ökonomie

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Haan, Marco A. ; Los, Bart ; Onderstal, Sander ; Riyanto, Yohanes E.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Tinbergen Institute
• (where): Amsterdam and Rotterdam
• (when): 2010

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/86837
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET