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Voter Behavior, Term Limits, and Seniority Advantage in Pork-Barrel Politics

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  • Cortney S. Rodet

Abstract

This paper explores electoral accountability in a legislative system favoring seniority, using laboratory experiments. Voters face a trade-off between pork-barrel transfers and policy representation. The experiment tests term limits as a mechanism to reduce the cost of searching for a candidate who better represents voters on policy. I use subjects´ preferences on abortion to capture incumbents´ policy choices where subjects vote to determine whether a donation is allocated to a pro-choice or to a pro-life nonprofit to create tension between visceral and monetary incentives. I find term limits to be effective, but not infallible, for avoiding the seniority trap.

Suggested Citation

  • Cortney S. Rodet, 2014. "Voter Behavior, Term Limits, and Seniority Advantage in Pork-Barrel Politics," Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 170(4), pages 646-683, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:mhr:jinste:urn:sici:0932-4569(201412)170:4_646:vbtlas_2.0.tx_2-p
    DOI: 10.1628/093245613X14069012013414
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D89 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Other
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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