Why do people donate to campaigns? Political Trust & Social Networks

1. Why do people donate to campaigns? Political Trust & Social Networks Mario Guerrero September 2, 2010

2. Outline • Literature Review • Research Question • Methodology • Results

3. Literature Review Literature Review Spatial Social Networks The appearance of dense spatial networks of political donors is a common occurrence. • Context and environment affects the way individuals interpret political information (Knoke 1995; Krasa 1995; Mutz 2006). • Political participation increases in a homogenous environment (Eagles and Erfle 1989; Alexina and LaFerrara 2000; Lutz 2005; Campbell 2006)

4. Literature Review Literature Review Spatial Social Networks

5. Literature Review Literature Review Spatial Social Networks Spatial networks of donors have identified in a number of different contexts. • Asian-American contributors in Texas (Cho 2003). • Contributors to the Texas Gubernatorial election (Cho 2007). • Nationwide contributors to the 2006 Gubernatorial elections (Cho and Gimpel 2010). Why do donors appear in geographic networks?

6. Literature Review Literature Review Political Trust A key element leading to increased participation in networks is trust. • Social capital encourages norms of trust, which influences participatory communities (Coleman 1988; Brehm & Rahn 1997; Putnam 2001). • Trust develops from shared values (Earle, Siegrest, and Gutscher 2007; Earle and Cvetkovich 1995) which, in turn, enforces commitment and responsibility to others (Barber 1982; Kasperson, Golding, and Tuler 1983). Is it feasible to assume that donors in spatial networks are encouraged to donate because of norms of trust?

7. Research Question Research Question Spatial Social Networks Political Trust ? Donating to Campaigns

8. Research Question Research Question Political Trust, Spatial Networks, & Donations Given the limitations on current survey research, these causal arrows cannot entirely be sorted out. Question: Does political trust increase the likelihood of political donations?

9. Methodology Methodology Three National Surveys The General Social Survey, National Election Studies, and PEW Center ask questions on political trust, social networks, and political donations. The wide variability of the surveys from year-to-year prevent comprehensive hypothesis testing.

10. Methodology Methodology General Social Survey

11. Methodology Methodology The National Election Studies

12. Methodology Methodology • The Problem With Surveys • The PEW Center does smaller surveys with inconsistent questions (Social Trust Survey) • Lost Opportunity Questions: • How often do you discuss politics? • How many friends do you have? • How many friends do you have that know each other? • How many close friends live near you? • Do you spend evenings with your neighbor? • Do you spend evenings with your friends? • How often do you discuss politics with those who live near you?

13. Results Results • 1983-87 GSS Data • Does the respondent trust the local government? • Insignificant • Significant controls: • Age • Education

14. Results Results • 1983-87 GSS Data • Does the respondent trust the local government? • Insignificant • Significant controls: • Age • Education

15. Results Results • 2004 NES Data • Additive index of four questions on trust: • Can people be trusted? • Do people take advantage of others? • Do most people try to be helpful? • Do you trust the government to do what is right? • Insignificant • Significant controls: • Age • Education • Income • Party Identification

16. Results Results Trust & Donating to Political Campaigns For the 1983-1987 GSS and 2004 NES, various indicators of political trust do not serve to accurately predict donations to political campaigns. Are there variables that are able to operationalize the conditions in a spatial social network?

17. Results Results • 2004 NES Data • How many days do you talk about politics with friends? • Significant • Significant controls: • Age • Education • Income • Party Identification

18. Results Results • 2004 GSS Data • How often do you discuss politics with friends, family, coworkers? • Significant • Significant controls: • Age • Education • Race

19. Results Results • Results • Discussion is not necessarily a proxy for what goes in spatial networks. • These variables are not very well conceptualized in current national surveys. • As conceptualized, political trust does not seem to have a direct effect on donations. • We should be interested in the activity occurring in these spatial networks. • An opportunity for qualitative work.