Doctoral Dissertation Research in Political Science: The Fifth Source and the Ballot Box: Public Money, Candidate Time and Changing American Elections

政治学博士论文研究：第五来源和投票箱：公共资金、候选人时间和变化的美国选举

• 批准号: 0819060
• 负责人: Theodore Lowi
• 金额: $ 1.09万
• 依托单位: Cornell University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-08-01 至 2009-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0819060&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Research; Political; Science

Nearly half of the American states spend millions of dollars on some form of public election financing. In state legislative elections, there is a growing tendency for states to directly subsidize candidates who agree to abide by pre-set spending limits. Despite the growing ubiquity of large subsidies and well-defined spending limits, political scientists have not fully considered the impact of these systems on campaign dynamics. Much previous analysis of public funding has assumed that the infusion of money holds the potential to create more competitive elections, but little has been discovered regarding the causal chain between subsidy and competition. This project focuses on the relationship between public money and how candidates spend their time engaging voters, and on whether altered campaign dynamics translate to changes in voter behavior. Using survey and interview data from candidates in twelve states, a theory of voter mobilization in publicly funded elections is developed and tested. The theory posits that publicly-funded candidates spend more time engaging voters. At the same time, it predicts that interest groups unable to influence elections monetarily will directly support mobilization efforts. In short, voters in publicly-funded elections are more likely to be mobilized, leading to higher levels of efficacy, knowledge, and participation. Survey data will be supplemented with election returns, turnout statistics, and campaign finance disclosures. Various statistical models will be used to analyze the effect public money has upon candidate entry, time allocations, and voter mobilization. Quantitative findings will be supported with qualitative candidate interviews.This research will advance political scientists? understanding of the manner in which public election financing changes campaign dynamics. First, the analysis transcends election statistics, incorporating the strategic and emotional concerns of candidates. Second, the project considers the affects of this altered strategic environment on political elites, groups, and the electorate at large. Suggesting that public election financing changes strategy and emotion system-wide, the theory broadens the criteria with which public financing will be evaluated. The project also extends current research methodologically, employing a mixed methods approach focused on political actors in publicly-funded systems.Finally, this research supports the broader academic and policy communities. Several states are seriously considering the implementation of public funding for future elections. Understanding the manner in which public financing changes election strategy and voter mobilization is of paramount importance as these deliberations continue. The project will provide the most complete picture to date of how political actors and voters respond to the availability of public election subsidies.

近一半的美国州花费数百万美元用于某种形式的公共选举融资。 在州议会选举中，各州直接资助同意遵守预先设定的开支限制的候选人的趋势越来越明显。 尽管大量补贴和明确的支出限制越来越普遍，但政治学家还没有充分考虑这些系统对竞选动态的影响。 以前对公共资金的许多分析都假设，资金的注入有可能创造更具竞争性的选举，但很少发现补贴和竞争之间的因果关系。 这个项目的重点是公共资金和候选人如何花时间吸引选民之间的关系，以及改变竞选动态是否转化为选民行为的变化。 使用调查和采访数据，从候选人在12个州，在公共资助的选举中的选民动员理论的开发和测试。 该理论认为，公共资助的候选人花更多的时间吸引选民。 与此同时，它预测，无法在金钱上影响选举的利益集团将直接支持动员工作。 简而言之，公共资助选举中的选民更有可能被动员起来，从而提高效率、知识和参与水平。 调查数据将补充选举回报，投票率统计和竞选资金披露。 各种统计模型将用于分析公共资金对候选人进入，时间分配和选民动员的影响。 定量研究结果将得到定性候选人访谈的支持。这项研究将推动政治科学家？了解公共选举筹资改变竞选动态的方式。 首先，分析超越了选举统计数据，纳入了候选人的战略和情感关切。 其次，该项目考虑了这种改变的战略环境对政治精英，团体和选民的影响。 这一理论指出，公共选举筹资会改变整个系统的策略和情感，拓宽了公共筹资的评价标准。 该项目还扩展了目前的研究方法，采用混合方法的方法，专注于在公共资助的系统的政治行为者。最后，这项研究支持更广泛的学术界和政策界。一些州正在认真考虑为未来的选举提供公共资金。 随着这些审议工作的继续，了解公共筹资如何改变选举战略和选民动员至关重要。该项目将提供迄今为止最完整的情况，说明政治行为体和选民如何对公共选举补贴作出反应。