Beauty in politics

Niclas Berggren, Henrik Jordahl and Panu Poutvaara

Chapter 10 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Public Choice, 2025, pp 70-80 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The appearance of political candidates can serve as a heuristic for voters who lack detailed information about competing candidates. Attractive candidates may be perceived as more competent and are often favored, even by those who do not consciously value beauty. Research suggests that beauty may influence electoral success through various mechanisms, including enhanced media coverage and greater confidence. While earlier studies primarily relied on observational data, more recent studies have used experimental designs to establish the causal effects of appearance on voting behavior. This chapter reviews the existing literature and explores the implications of candidate appearance for electoral outcomes.

Keywords: Beauty; Appearance; Elections; Politics; Democracy; Heuristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781802207743
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