Social preferences and voting: An exploration using a novel preference revealing mechanism

Kent Messer (), Gregory Poe, Daniel Rondeau, William D. Schulze and Christian Vossler

Journal of Public Economics, 2010, vol. 94, issue 3-4, 308-317

Abstract: Public referenda are frequently used to determine the provision of public goods. As public programs have distributional consequences, a compelling question is what impact, if any, do social preferences have on voting behavior. This paper explores this issue using laboratory experiments wherein voting outcomes lead to a known distribution of net benefits across participants. Preferences are elicited using a novel Random Price Voting Mechanism (RPVM), which is more efficient in eliciting preferences than a dichotomous choice referendum but gives consistent results. Results suggest that social preferences, in particular a social efficiency motive, lead to economically meaningful deviations from selfish voting choices and increase the likelihood that welfare-enhancing programs are implemented.

Keywords: Voting; Social; preferences; Random; price; voting; mechanism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (36)

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Working Paper: Social Preferences and Voting: An Exploration Using a Novel Preference Revealing Mechanism (2008)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:94:y:2010:i:3-4:p:308-317

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