
doi: 10.1086/690943
We present a model of electoral control with behavioral voters. The model captures two main regularities of voting behavior found in empirical studies: voters are forgetful and are influenced by extraneous events beyond the control of public officials. Specifically, we assume that voters’ propensities to reelect the incumbent are governed by a stochastic reinforcement process instead of strategic reasoning. We show that even in the presence of behavioral voters, electoral control (i.e., public officials’ incentive to exercise effort) can work well. More generally, the extent of control depends on the properties of the election and the electorate. A higher impact of negative events benefits electoral control, as the incumbent must exert greater effort to ensure reelection. Increasing the benefits of holding office also has a positive effect, while the degree of voter forgetfulness helps electoral control if and only if elections are held frequently.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 20 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
