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Race And Gender Affinities In Voting: Experimental Evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant

    (Queen's University)

  • Erin Tolley

    (University of Toronto)

  • Jeffrey Penney

    (Queen's University)

Abstract

We analyze the results of a large-scale experiment wherein subjects participate in a hypothetical primary election and must choose between two fictional candidates who vary by sex and race. We find evidence of affinities along these dimensions in voting behaviour. A number of phenomena regarding these affinities and their interactions are detailed and explored. We find that they compete with each other on the basis of race and gender. Neuroeconomic metrics suggest that people who vote for own race candidates tend to rely more on heuristics than those who do not.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant & Erin Tolley & Jeffrey Penney, 2016. "Race And Gender Affinities In Voting: Experimental Evidence," Working Paper 1370, Economics Department, Queen's University.
    • Handle: RePEc:qed:wpaper:1370
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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