Léonard Wantchékon
Clientelism and Voting Behavior: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Benin
author conducted field experiment benin investigate impact clientelism voting behavior collaboration four political parties involved 2001 presidential elections clientelist broad public policy platforms designed run twenty randomly selected villages average 756 registered voters using survey data collected elections author estimated effect type message comparing voting behavior villages exposed clientelism public policy messages treatment groups voting behavior villages control groups author found clientelist messages positive significant effect regions types candidates author also found public policy messages positive significant effect south negative significant effect north addition public policy messages seem hurt incumbents well regional candidates finally evidence indicates female voters tend stronger preference public policy platforms male voters