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

美国近一半的州在某种形式的公共选举融资上花费了数百万美元。在州议会选举中，各州越来越倾向于直接资助那些同意遵守预先设定的开支限制的候选人。尽管巨额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到这些制度对竞选动态的影响。之前很多关于公共资金的分析都认为，注入资金有可能创造更具竞争性的选举，但很少有人发现补贴与竞争之间的因果链。该项目侧重于公共资金与候选人如何花费时间吸引选民之间的关系，以及改变的竞选动态是否会转化为选民行为的变化。本文利用对12个州候选人的调查和访谈数据，发展并检验了在公共资助选举中动员选民的理论。该理论认为，公共资助的候选人花更多的时间来吸引选民。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，在公共资助的选举中，选民更有可能被动员起来，从而导致更高水平的效率、知识和参与。调查数据将辅以选举结果、投票率统计和竞选资金披露。政府将利用各种统计模型，分析公共资金对候选人入场、时间分配、选民动员等产生的影响。定量调查结果将与定性候选人访谈相支持。这项研究将推动政治学家的进步。了解公共选举资金如何改变竞选动态。首先，该分析超越了选举统计，纳入了候选人的战略和情感关注。其次，该项目考虑了这种改变的战略环境对政治精英、团体和广大选民的影响。该理论认为，公共选举筹资改变了整个系统的战略和情感，拓宽了评估公共选举筹资的标准。该项目还扩展了目前的研究方法，采用混合方法，重点关注公共资助系统中的政治行为者。最后，这项研究支持了更广泛的学术和政策团体。有几个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进行，了解公共资金改变选举战略和选民动员的方式至关重要。该项目将提供迄今为止最全面的政治行为者和选民对公共选举补贴的反应。

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.