tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1331441403058020963.post7489362898104912325..comments2024-03-28T06:49:24.930-04:00Comments on International Political Economy at the University of North Carolina: Revealed Preference (?)Thomas Oatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14092437150746625670noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1331441403058020963.post-29047892650024524302010-08-07T02:24:12.585-04:002010-08-07T02:24:12.585-04:00the interesting thing to me would be your #1: whet...the interesting thing to me would be your #1: whether these donations are reactive (i.e. intended to influence policy *after* elections) or proactive (i.e. intended to get particular candidates elected). if the former, the walmart contributions make a bit more sense. <br /><br />i agree that it doesn't tell us everything, and as i said i don't really know (or care) how what this means in context of citizen's united. but it's better than just making completely baseless speculations.Kindred Winecoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14330671232391851377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1331441403058020963.post-52330382894169506892010-08-06T14:30:05.614-04:002010-08-06T14:30:05.614-04:00This research is a textbook example of why it is d...This research is a textbook example of why it is dangerous to infer preferences from outcomes within a strategic context. In order to make the case that this data indicates that Citizens United will be a boom for both Democrats and Republicans, you would have to show:<br />1) Donation patterns reflect true ideology rather than strategic donations.<br />and<br />2) Corporate donations are determined by the ways in which individual board members privately donate.<br /><br />While this data is interesting (I was particularly surprised that Target board members give to more Republican causes than Wal-Mart board members), in its current state, it does not provide us with enough information to make any reasonably defensible inferences about how corporations will allocate campaign donations in the future.SBDnoreply@blogger.com