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Competing for Endorsements

Author

Listed:
  • Grossman, Gene
  • Helpman, Elhanan

Abstract

Endorsements are a simple language for communication between well-informed interest-group leaders and less-informed interest-group members. The members, who share some policy concerns, may not fully understand where their interests lie on certain issues. If their leaders cannot fully explain the issues, they can convey some information by endorsing one political party or the other. Members must interpret the importance of the endorsement in view of their feelings about the parties on other unrelated matters. When interest groups endorse legislative contenders, the latter may compete for their backing. Policy outcomes may favour special interests at the expense of the general public. We examine the conditions under which parties compete for endorsements, the extent to which policy outcomes are skewed, and the efficiency properties of the resulting political equilibria. We consider both leaders who follow a mechanical endorsement rule and leaders who behave strategically.

Suggested Citation

  • Grossman, Gene & Helpman, Elhanan, 1996. "Competing for Endorsements," CEPR Discussion Papers 1546, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:1546
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Grossman, Gene M & Helpman, Elhanan, 1994. "Protection for Sale," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 84(4), pages 833-850, September.
    2. McKelvey, Richard D. & Ordeshook, Peter C., 1985. "Elections with limited information: A fulfilled expectations model using contemporaneous poll and endorsement data as information sources," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 55-85, June.
    3. repec:cup:apsrev:v:88:y:1994:i:01:p:33-47_09 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Crawford, Vincent P & Sobel, Joel, 1982. "Strategic Information Transmission," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(6), pages 1431-1451, November.
    5. repec:cup:apsrev:v:86:y:1992:i:02:p:390-403_08 is not listed on IDEAS
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Elections; Political Economy; Special Interest groups; Voting;

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior

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