Antonio Nicolò (Universita di Padova)

“On the Efficiency of Partial Information in Elections”

We study the relation between the electorate’s information about candidates’ policy platforms during an election, and the subsequent provision of inefficient local publicgoods (pork) by the elected government. More information does not lead to better outcomes. We show that the efficient outcome in which no candidate proposes toprovide any inefficient good is sustained in equilibrium only if voters are not well informed. If the electorate is well informed, electoral competition leads candidates toprovide inefficient pork in all equilibria. We show that this result is robust even if candidates care about efficiency.