Do voters use information on candidates? Experimental evidence from a recent election
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10933465 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Emma Galli (0000-0001-7951-2313, Sapienza University of Rome), Giampaolo Garzarelli (0000-0002-2155-901X, Sapienza University of Rome, corresponding author), Giuliana Pinto (0000-0002-1984-9616, Sapienza University of Rome), Gabriele Pinto, Massimo Pulejo (0000-0002-0281-0221, Roma Tre University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 206 |
| Issue | 3-4 |
| Pages | 489-519 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Public Choice (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0048-5829 • E-ISSN: 1573-7101 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s11127-025-01325-x |
| OpenAlex | W4415308878 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 31 |
Through a survey experiment during the 2021 municipal elections of Rome, Italy, we evaluate the effects of a policy on political transparency that requires the online publication of information on candidates before the election. We find no effects on turnout and choice of councilors. However, treated subjects who invested more time browsing candidates’ profiles voted more for the incumbent mayor. These effects align with the limited engagement of subjects, who made little use of the information provided and mostly searched for incumbent candidates. The results suggest that broad interventions intending to curb the cost of acquiring political information may have limited efficacy
Campaign finance · Politics · Psychological intervention · Public finance · Transparency (behavior · Turnout · Voter turnout · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies · Media Influence and Politics
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| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |