Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/86837 
Year of Publication: 
2010
Series/Report no.: 
Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper No. 10-056/1
Publisher: 
Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam and Rotterdam
Abstract: 
Politicians differ in their ability to implement some policy. In an election, candidates make commitments regarding the plans they will try to implement if elected. These serve as a signal of true ability. In equilibrium, candidates make overambitious promises. The candidate with the highest ability wins. Yet, the electorate may be better off having a random candidate implement her best plan, rather than seeing the winner implementing an overambitious plan. This is more likely if the ability distribution is skewed toward high values, the number of candidates is high, with private benefits from being elected, or if parties select candidates.
Subjects: 
election promises
signalling
JEL: 
D72
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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