| ID | 118969 |
| Title Proper | How words and money cultivate a personal vote |
| Other Title Information | the effect of legislator credit claiming on constituent credit allocation |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Grimmer, Justin ; Messing, Solomon ; Westwood, Sean J |
| Publication | 2013. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Particularistic spending, a large literature argues, builds support for incumbents. This literature equates money spent in the district with the credit constituents allocate. Yet, constituents lack the necessary information and motivation to allocate credit in this way. We use extensive observational and experimental evidence to show how legislators' credit claiming messages-and not just money spent in the district-affect how constituents allocate credit. Legislators use credit claiming messages to influence the expenditures they receive credit for and to affect how closely they are associated with spending in the district. Constituents are responsive to credit claiming messages-they build more support than other nonpartisan messages. But contrary to expectations from other studies, constituents are more responsive to the total number of messages sent rather than the amount claimed. Our results have broad implications for political representation, the personal vote, and the study of U.S. Congressional elections. |
| `In' analytical Note | American Political Science Review Vol. 106, No.4; Nov 2012: p.703-719 |
| Journal Source | American Political Science Review Vol. 106, No.4; Nov 2012: p.703-719 |
| Key Words | US Congressional Elections ; Political Representation ; Money Cultivate ; Constituent Credit Allocation ; Personal Vote ; United States |