Does Corruption Information Inspire the Fight or Quash the Hope? A Field Experiment in Mexico on Voter Turnout, Choice, and Party Identification

Author(s): 

Alberto Chong, Ana L. De La O and Dean Karlan, Leonard Wantchekon

ISPS ID: 
ISPS15-001
Full citation: 
Alberto Chong, Ana L. De La O and Dean Karlan, Leonard Wantchekon (2015) Does Corruption Information Inspire the Fight or Quash the Hope? A Field Experiment in Mexico on Voter Turnout, Choice, and Party Identification. The Journal of Politics, Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/678766
Abstract: 
Retrospective voting models assume that offering more information to voters about their incumbents’ performance strengthens electoral accountability. However, it is unclear whether incumbent corruption information translates into higher political participation and increased support for challengers. We provide experimental evidence that such information not only decreases incumbent party support in local elections in Mexico, but also decreases voter turnout and support for the challenger party, as well as erodes partisan attachments. While information clearly is necessary to improve accountability, corruption information is not sufficient because voters may respond to it by withdrawing from the political process. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our findings for studies of voting behavior.
Supplemental information: 

Link to article here.

Location: 
Location details: 
Mexico
Publication date: 
2015
Publication type: 
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