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Endogenous Social Connections in Legislatures

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  • Marco Battaglini
  • Eleonora Patacchini
  • Edoardo Rainone

Abstract

We present a model of the U.S. Congress in which social connections among Congress members are endogenous and matter for their legislative activity. We propose a novel equilibrium concept for the network formation game that allows for a sharp characterization of equilibrium behavior and that yields a unique prediction under testable conditions. While the equilibrium is characterized by a large number of nonlinear equations, we show that the model can be structurally estimated by an appropriately designed Approximate Bayesian Computation method. Estimating the model using data from the 109th to 113th U.S. Congresses, we show that social connections are important for legislators' productivities and we identify some of the key determinants of social centralities in Congress.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Battaglini & Eleonora Patacchini & Edoardo Rainone, 2019. "Endogenous Social Connections in Legislatures," NBER Working Papers 25988, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
  • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:25988
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Marco Battaglini & Forrest W. Crawford & Eleonora Patacchini & Sida Peng, 2020. "A Graphical Lasso Approach to Estimating Network Connections: The Case of U.S. Lawmakers," NBER Working Papers 27557, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Chih‐Sheng Hsieh & Lung‐Fei Lee & Vincent Boucher, 2020. "Specification and estimation of network formation and network interaction models with the exponential probability distribution," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 11(4), pages 1349-1390, November.
    3. Anton Badev, 2021. "Nash Equilibria on (Un)Stable Networks," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 89(3), pages 1179-1206, May.
    4. Boucher, Vincent, 2020. "Equilibrium homophily in networks," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior

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