CaltechAUTHORS
  A Caltech Library Service

Spatial Competition Between Two Candidates of Different Quality: The Effects of Candidate Ideology and Private Information

Aragones, Enriqueta and Palfrey, Thomas R. (2003) Spatial Competition Between Two Candidates of Different Quality: The Effects of Candidate Ideology and Private Information. Social Science Working Paper, 1169. California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, CA. (Unpublished) https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20170801-141851171

[img] PDF (sswp 1169 - May 23, 2003) - Submitted Version
See Usage Policy.

244kB

Use this Persistent URL to link to this item: https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20170801-141851171

Abstract

This paper examines competition in a spatial model of two-candidate elections, where one candidate enjoys a quality advantage over the other candidate. The candidates care about winning and also have policy preferences. There is two-dimensional private information. Candidate ideal points as well as their tradeoffs between policy preferences and winning are private information. The distribution of this two-dimensional type is common knowledge. The location of the median voter’s ideal point is uncertain, with a distribution that is commonly known by both candidates. Pure strategy equilibria always exist in this model. We characterize the effects of increased uncertainty about the median voter, the effect of candidate policy preferences, and the effects of changes in the distribution of private information. We prove that the distribution of candidate policies approaches the mixed equilibrium of Aragones and Palfrey (2002a), when both candidates’ weights on policy preferences go to zero.


Item Type:Report or Paper (Working Paper)
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Palfrey, Thomas R.0000-0003-0769-8109
Additional Information:Aragones acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology, grant number SEC2000-1186. Palfrey acknowledges financial support from the National Science Foundation, grant number SES-0079301, and from the Institut d’Anàlisi Econòmica. He is also grateful for the Institut’s hospitality in May 2003. Published as Aragones, E., & Palfrey, T. (2005). Electoral competition between two candidates of different quality: The effects of candidate ideology and private information. Social Choice and Strategic Decisions, 93-112.
Group:Social Science Working Papers
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN)SEC2000-1186
NSFSES-0079301
Institut d’Anàlisi EconòmicaUNSPECIFIED
Subject Keywords:candidate quality; spatial competition; purification
Series Name:Social Science Working Paper
Issue or Number:1169
Classification Code:JEL: C73, D72, D82
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20170801-141851171
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20170801-141851171
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:79703
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Jacquelyn Bussone
Deposited On:01 Aug 2017 22:55
Last Modified:22 Nov 2019 09:58

Repository Staff Only: item control page