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Persuasion and gender: experimental evidence from two political campaigns

Author

Listed:
  • Vincenzo Galasso

    (Bocconi University
    Bocconi University)

  • Tommaso Nannicini

    (Bocconi University
    Bocconi University)

Abstract

We investigate differential responses by gender to competitive persuasion in political campaigns. We implemented a survey and a field experiment during two mayoral elections in Italy. Eligible voters were exposed to a positive or negative campaign by an opponent. The survey experiment used on-line videos and slogans. The field experiment used door-to-door canvassing. In both experiments, gender differences emerge. Females vote more for the opponent and less for the incumbent when exposed to positive—as opposed to negative—campaigning. Males do the opposite. These differences cannot be explained by gender identification, ideology, or other voters’ observable attributes.

Suggested Citation

  • Vincenzo Galasso & Tommaso Nannicini, 2025. "Persuasion and gender: experimental evidence from two political campaigns," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 203(1), pages 183-204, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:203:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11127-024-01192-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11127-024-01192-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Vincenzo Galasso & Tommaso Nannicini & Salvatore Nunnari, 2020. "Positive Spillovers from Negative Campaigning," Working Papers 664, IGIER (Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research), Bocconi University.
    2. Di Tella, Rafael & Galiani, Sebastian & Schargrodsky, Ernesto, 2021. "Persuasive propaganda during the 2015 Argentine Ballotage," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 885-900.
    3. Bao, Te & Liang, Bin & Pei, Jiaoying, 2022. "Does ethnic diversity always undermine pro-social behavior? Evidence from a laboratory experiment," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    4. Bruno Carvalho & Claudia Custodio & Benny Geys & Diogo Mendes & Susana Peralta, 2020. "Information, Perceptions, and Electoral Behaviour of Young Voters: A Randomised Controlled Experiment," Working Papers ECARES 2020-14, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    5. Harry Pickard, 2019. "A mailshot in the dark? The impact of the UK government's lea fet on the 2016 EU referendum," Working Papers 2019004, The University of Sheffield, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gender differences; Political campaign; Randomized controlled trial; Voting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • M37 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Marketing and Advertising - - - Advertising

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