Did the timing of elections influence local economic development policies? We conducted a field experiment across over 3,000 U.S. municipalities to investigate this.
Method:
- Legally incorporated a consultancy firm and posed inquiries on behalf of a fictional investor seeking municipal incentives.
- Tested whether pre- or post-election periods affected the likelihood of local governments offering investment incentives.
Findings:
- Overall results showed no significant difference in incentive offers based on election timing. • However, analysis limited to manufacturing-focused municipalities suggests an effect does exist here.
- Additional observational insights indicate that executive elections and partisanship may correlate with these policies.
Why It Matters:
This research highlights the complex interplay between electoral politics and economic policy implementation at local levels.
