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Political Legacies

Author

Listed:
  • Fong, Christian

    (Stanford University)

  • Malhotra, Neil

    (Stanford University)

  • Margalit, Yotam M.

    (Tel Aviv University)

Abstract

Politicians are widely perceived to lose significance upon leaving office. Yet media accounts often highlight politicians' legacies as a source of influence that endures even after they retire. This article assesses these contrasting views by investigating the substance, endurance, and significance of political legacies. We develop a theoretical account of legacies and their relevance to contemporary politics, emphasizing that in addition to "hard legacies"--concrete and enduring policy achievements--politicians often establish "soft" legacies--memories enshrined in the public's consciousness. Soft legacies can be, but are not necessarily, tied to the substance of one's hard legacy. We ground our theoretical account empirically by testing a series of observable implications using data from online discussion forums, original surveys of both citizens and political elites, thousands of former politicians' Wikipedia pages, and a randomized experiment. We find that establishing a lasting legacy is a key motivation of public officials. More generally, our findings provide substantial evidence that legacies influence contemporary policy debates long after a leader steps down.

Suggested Citation

  • Fong, Christian & Malhotra, Neil & Margalit, Yotam M., 2017. "Political Legacies," Research Papers repec:ecl:stabus:3589, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:stabus:repec:ecl:stabus:3589
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    File URL: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/gsb-cmis/gsb-cmis-download-auth/441931
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