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Voice and Political Engagement: Evidence From a Natural Field Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Anselm Hager

    (Humboldt University)

  • Lukas Hensel

    (Peking University)

  • Christopher Roth

    (University of Cologne, ECONtribute, briq, CESifo, CAGE Warwick, CEPR, MPI Bonn)

  • Andreas Stegmann

    (University of Warwick, briq, Cage, CEPR)

Abstract

We conduct a natural field experiment with a major European party to test whether giv-ing party supporters the opportunity to voice their opinions increases their engagement in the party’s electoral campaign. In our experiment, the party asked a random subset of supporters for their opinions on the importance of different topics. Giving supporters more opportunities to voice their opinions increases their engagement in the campaign as measured using behavioral data from the party’s smartphone application. Survey data reveals that our voice treatments also increase other margins of campaign effort as well as perceived voice. Our evidence highlights that parties can increase their supporters’ investment in the democratic process by implementing policies that increase their voice.

Suggested Citation

  • Anselm Hager & Lukas Hensel & Christopher Roth & Andreas Stegmann, 2021. "Voice and Political Engagement: Evidence From a Natural Field Experiment," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 133, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:ajk:ajkdps:133
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Political engagement; Inclusion; Voice; Agency; Natural Field Experiment; Canvassing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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