Replication data for: The Iceberg Theory of Campaign Contributions: Political Threats and Interest Group Behavior

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) Marcos Chamon; Ethan Kaplan

Version:  View help for Version V1

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  data 10/26/2021 11:50:AM
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Project Citation: 

Chamon, Marcos, and Kaplan, Ethan. Replication data for: The Iceberg Theory of Campaign Contributions: Political Threats and Interest Group Behavior. Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2013. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2019-10-13. https://doi.org/10.3886/E114808V1

Project Description

Summary:  View help for Summary We present a model where special interest groups condition contributions on the receiving candidate's support and also her opponent's. This allows interest groups to obtain support from contributions as well as from threats of contributing. Out-of-equilibrium contributions help explain the missing money puzzle. Our framework contradicts standard models in predicting that interest groups give to only one side of a race. We also predict that special interest groups will mainly target lopsided winners, whereas general interest groups will contribute mainly to candidates in close races. We verify these predictions in FEC data for US House elections from 1984-1990. (JEL D72)

Scope of Project

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms interest groups; political action committees; Campaign contributions
JEL Classification:  View help for JEL Classification
      D72 Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
Geographic Coverage:  View help for Geographic Coverage United States
Time Period(s):  View help for Time Period(s) 1/1/1984 – 12/31/1990
Universe:  View help for Universe An campaign contributions from an interest group to a candidate running for political office in the U.S. House of Representatives between 1984 and 1990.
Data Type(s):  View help for Data Type(s) administrative records data; roll call voting data; observational data

Methodology

Data Source:  View help for Data Source Federal Election Commisssion
Unit(s) of Observation:  View help for Unit(s) of Observation Interest group X donation recipient,

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V1 [2019-10-13]

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