Choice in politics: Equivalency framing in economic policy decisions and the influence of expertise

Kuehnhanss, Colin R and Heyndels, Bruno and Hilken, Katharina (2015): Choice in politics: Equivalency framing in economic policy decisions and the influence of expertise. Published in: European Journal of Political Economy , Vol. 40, No. pt.B (9 December 2015): pp. 360-374.

Abstract

Political decision-making involves the presentation of policy options from opposing points of view and in different lights. We test whether economic policy decisions are subject to equivalency framing by presenting survey participants with binary risky-choice decisions in hypothetical policy scenarios. Potentially mediating influences of expertise on the framing effect are explored using responses of students and professionals. Expertise is thereby defined in line with common education and work experience criteria in the recruitment of public officials. We mostly find unidirectional framing effects in the economic policy scenarios and a similar susceptibility of respondents with different levels of expertise. A logistic regression of the expertise variables on the choice between certain and risky options reveals only the frame to have a systematically significant effect across scenarios. The results indicate that expertise may not necessarily help to make better policy choices under risk, if the available options are framed differently.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Equivalency framing; Political decision-making; Economic policy; Expertise
• Subjects: D - Microeconomics > D7 - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making > D73 - Bureaucracy ; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations ; Corruption; D - Microeconomics > D8 - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty > D81 - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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