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Voting to Tell Others

Author

Listed:
  • Gautam Rao
  • Stefano DellaVigna
  • John List
  • Ulrike Malmendier

Abstract

Why do people vote? We design a field experiment to estimate a model of voting `because others will ask'. The expectation of being asked motivates turnout if individuals derive pride from telling others that they voted, or feel shame from admitting that they did not vote, provided that lying is costly. In a door-to-door survey about election turnout, we experimentally vary (i) the informational content and use of a flyer pre-announcing the survey, (ii) the duration and payment for the survey, and (iii) the incentives to lie about past voting. The experimental results indicate significant social image concerns. For the 2010 Congressional election, we estimate a value of voting `because others will ask' of $5-$15, one of the first estimates of the value of voting in the literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Gautam Rao & Stefano DellaVigna & John List & Ulrike Malmendier, "undated". "Voting to Tell Others," Working Paper 183751, Harvard University OpenScholar.
    • Handle: RePEc:qsh:wpaper:183751
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    File URL: http://scholar.harvard.edu/rao/node/183751
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    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies

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