Policy & the Economy

July 10, 2020
Why We Know So Little about Disparities within the Federal Court System—and How That’s Finally Changing
Millions of hard-to-obtain public court records shed new light on the fairness of the U.S. judiciary.
Adam Pah, David Schwartz, Sarath Sanga, Zachary Clopton, Peter DiCola, Rachel Davis Mersey, Charlotte Alexander, Kristian Hammond and Luis A. Nunes Amaral

August 13, 2019
When People Think Their Neighbors Support Trump, They’re More Likely to Express Anti-immigrant Views
Social norms are powerful—but fluid. A study of the 2016 election shows how they can change.
Georgy Egorov, Leonardo Bursztyn and Stefano Fiorin

July 1, 2019
Are Voters Biased Against Female Politicians?
In many cases, no. But economic anxiety can ignite powerful gender stereotypes.
Ryan Lei and Galen Bodenhausen

June 3, 2019
One Nation Invades Another. What Will Happen Next?
Game theory reveals why some conflicts escalate and others don’t.
Sandeep Baliga and Tomas Sjöström

January 17, 2019
Which Gold Medalists Do We Tweet About? Liberals and Conservatives Differ
New research explores how political ideology can affect whose accomplishments we celebrate.
Nour Kteily, Matthew D. Rocklage, Kaylene McClanahan and Arnold K. Ho

January 7, 2019
Which Voters Want to Expand Medicaid? Maybe Not the Ones You Think
4-year degree-holders tend to be big supporters—even though they are personally unlikely to benefit.
David A. Matsa and Amalia R. Miller

January 3, 2019
Politicians Vote Differently When Journalists Aren’t Watching
During natural disasters, the media spotlight shifts—and special interests benefit.
Ethan Kaplan, Jörg L. Spenkuch and Haishan Yuan

October 30, 2018
Take 5: Election Rules and Campaign Tactics That Sway Voters
A look at whether celebrity endorsements matter, why the top spot on a ballot is coveted, and more election research from Kellogg faculty.
Craig Garthwaite, Angela Y. Lee, Yuval Salant, Georgy Egorov and Jörg L. Spenkuch

September 4, 2018
Why Economic Crises Trigger Political Turnover in Some Countries but Not Others
The fallout can hinge on how much a country’s people trust each other.
Nancy Qian, Nathan Nunn and Jaya Wen

August 2, 2018
Why a Choice Doesn’t Feel Like a Choice When Morality Enters the Picture
A new study explains why heroes always say, “I just did what anybody would do.”
Maryam Kouchaki, Isaac Smith and Krishna Savani

June 7, 2018
Why Certain Types of Elections Favor Extreme Candidates
Winners can differ when voting is done by district versus at-large.
Andrew Beath, Fotini Christia, Georgy Egorov and Ruben Enikolopov

September 5, 2017
When Corporations Donate to Candidates, Are They Buying Influence?
The surprising result suggests the need to rethink the role of money in politics.
Anthony Fowler, Haritz Garro and Jörg L. Spenkuch

May 6, 2016
Abandoning the Electoral College Would Remake Campaign Spending
A direct-vote system could have a sizeable impact on the behaviors of voters and candidates.
Brett Gordon and Wesley Hartmann

January 4, 2016
To Rally Your Base, Buy Air Time
How political advertising is a zero-sum game.
Jörg L. Spenkuch and David Toniatti

May 5, 2014
Happy Voters or Happy Outcomes?
In corporations, academia, and the papal conclave, transparent voting and voter privacy interact in surprisingly complex ways.
Ronen Gradwohl
September 4, 2012
Braggarts Become Leaders
Women at a disadvantage when competing for leadership positions
Ernesto Reuben, Pedro Rey-Biel, Paola Sapienza and Luigi Zingales

April 2, 2012
The Oprah Effect
Celebrity endorsement of political candidates can make a difference at the polls.
Craig Garthwaite and Timothy Moore
November 1, 2010
A Populist Paradox
Populist policies may harm voters but reward leaders
Daron Acemoglu, Georgy Egorov and Konstantin Sonin

October 1, 2010
First Among Equals?
Prime ballot position improves a candidate’s chances of winning office.
Marc Meredith and Yuval Salant

May 1, 2009
The "Teddy Bear Effect" for Black CEOs
Black male CEOS are more successful when their facial features are perceived as less threatening.
Robert W. Livingston and Nicholas Pearce
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