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Deception And Political Participation: Theory And Laboratory Evidence

Author

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  • Daniel Houser
  • Sandra Ludwig
  • Thomas Stratmann

Abstract

type="main" xml:id="ecin12236-abs-0001"> We model two-candidate elections in which (1) voters are uncertain about candidates' attributes; and (2) candidates can inform voters of their attributes by sending advertisements. We compare between political campaigns with truthful advertising and campaigns in which there is a small chance of deceptive advertising. Our model predicts that voters should vote in-line with an advertisement's information. We test our model's predictions using laboratory elections. We find, in the presence of even a small probability that an advertisement is deceptive, voters become substantially more likely to elect a “low-quality” candidate. We discuss implications of this for existing models of voting decisions. (JEL C92, D72, D82)

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Houser & Sandra Ludwig & Thomas Stratmann, 2016. "Deception And Political Participation: Theory And Laboratory Evidence," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 54(1), pages 464-484, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:54:y:2016:i:1:p:464-484
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cesar Martinelli & Thomas R. Palfrey, 2017. "Communication and Information in Games of Collective Decision: A Survey of Experimental Results," Working Papers 1065, George Mason University, Interdisciplinary Center for Economic Science.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design

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