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Candy Elasticity: Halloween Experiments On Public Political Statements

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Listed:
  • Julian Jamison
  • Dean Karlan

Abstract

type="main" xml:id="ecin12233-abs-0001"> We conducted experiments during trick-or-treating on Halloween in a predominantly liberal neighborhood in the weeks preceding the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections. We decorated one side of a house porch with McCain material in 2008 (Romney material in 2012) and the other side with Obama material. Children were asked to choose a side, with half receiving the same candy on either side and half receiving more candy to go to the McCain/Romney side. This yields a “candy elasticity” of children's political support. Results vary by age: children ages nine and older were two to three times more likely to choose the Republican candidate when offered double candy for voting Republican compared to when offered equal candy, whereas children ages eight and under were particularly sticky and did not waver in their choice of candidate despite the offer of double candy. (JEL C93, D72, D12)

Suggested Citation

  • Julian Jamison & Dean Karlan, 2016. "Candy Elasticity: Halloween Experiments On Public Political Statements," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 54(1), pages 543-547, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:54:y:2016:i:1:p:543-547
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/ecin.2016.54.issue-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tedin, Kent L., 1974. "The Influence of Parents on the Political Attitudes of Adolescents," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 68(4), pages 1579-1592, December.
    2. Murnighan, J. Keith & Saxon, Michael Scott, 1998. "Ultimatum bargaining by children and adults," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 415-445, August.
    3. Beck, Paul Allen & Jennings, M. Kent, 1982. "Pathways to Participation," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 76(1), pages 94-108, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Peter M Aronow & Dean Karlan & Lauren E Pinson, 2018. "The effect of images of Michelle Obama’s face on trick-or-treaters’ dietary choices: A randomized control trial," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(1), pages 1-6, January.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis

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