@techreport{572358c47d23454a86d7a00f49051bd6,
title = "Choosing a Public-Spirited Leader. An experimental investigation of political selection",
abstract = "In this experiment, voters select a leader who can either act in the public interest, i.e. make efficient and equitable policy choices, or act in a corrupt way, i.e. use public funds for private gain. Voters can observe candidates{\textquoteright} pro-social behavior and their score in a cognitive ability test prior to the election, and this fact is known to candidates. Therefore, self-interested candidates have incentives to act in a pro-social manner, i.e. to pretend to be public-spirited leaders. We find that both truly pro-social and egoistic leaders co-exist, but that political selection is ineffective in choosing public-spirited leaders. The main reason is that egoistic candidates strategically pretend to be pro-social to increase their chances of winning the election.",
keywords = "Faculty of Social Sciences, Political selection, pro-social behavior, social dilemma, corruption, voting, C91, C92, D03, D72, H41, political selection, pro-social behavior, social dilemma, corruption, voting",
author = "Thomas Markussen and Tyran, {Jean-Robert Karl}",
year = "2017",
month = dec,
language = "English",
series = "University of Copenhagen. Institute of Economics. Discussion Papers (Online)",
number = "17-04",
type = "WorkingPaper",
}