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Elections and divisiveness : theory and evidence

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Ash, Elliott, Morelli, Massimo and Van Weelden, Richard (2017) Elections and divisiveness : theory and evidence. The Journal of Politics, 79 (4). pp. 1268-1285. doi:10.1086/692587

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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1086/692587

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Abstract

This article provides a theoretical and empirical analysis of how politicians allocate their time across issues. When voters are uncertain about an incumbent’s preferences, there is a pervasive incentive to “posture” by spending too much time on divisive issues (which are more informative about a politician’s preferences) at the expense of time spent on common-values issues (which provide greater benefit to voters). Higher transparency over the politicians’ choices can exacerbate the distortions. These theoretical results motivate an empirical study of how Members of the US Congress allocate time across issues in their floor speeches. We find that US senators spend more time on divisive issues when they are up for election, consistent with electorally induced posturing. In addition, we find that US house members spend more time on divisive issues in response to higher news transparency.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: J Political Science > JK Political institutions (United States)
Divisions: Faculty of Social Sciences > Economics
SWORD Depositor: Library Publications Router
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Legislators -- Time management -- United States, Legislators -- Attitudes -- United States, United States. Congress -- Elections
Journal or Publication Title: The Journal of Politics
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISSN: 1468-2508
Official Date: 18 July 2017
Dates:
DateEvent
18 July 2017Available
1 October 2016Accepted
Volume: 79
Number: 4
Page Range: pp. 1268-1285
DOI: 10.1086/692587
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
694583H2020 European Research Councilhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010663

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