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Pro-sociality of local democratic leaders: The impact and dynamics of being elected

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  • Landmann, Andreas
  • Vollan, Björn

Abstract

Democratic regimes need leaders with high intrinsic motivation to serve their constituents. In this paper, we investigate the levels of leaders’ pro-social motivation, how such levels differ from those of villagers, whether they are affected when the leaders are elected, and the persistence over several years. A regression discontinuity design based on close elections combined with a panel of incentivized lab-in-the-field measures of solidarity reveals that being elected and holding office as a local leader results in making more pro-social choices two and six years after the election. An additional experiment measuring normative expectations towards leaders suggests that leaders' higher pro-sociality may come from internalizing these expectations. We also discuss the role of income, collective action and network ties and how the increase in pro-sociality relates to local level corruption.

Suggested Citation

  • Landmann, Andreas & Vollan, Björn, 2024. "Pro-sociality of local democratic leaders: The impact and dynamics of being elected," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:164:y:2024:i:c:s0014292124000448
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2024.104715
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    Keywords

    Democratic leadership; Pro-sociality; Political selection; Injunctive norms; Lab-in-the-field; Philippines jel: D72; D90; O12; C90;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General

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