The Political Economy of Zero-Sum Thinking
S. Nageeb Ali, Maximilian Mihm, Lucas Siga
Econometrica · 2025 · Volume 93 · Issue 1
Abstract
This paper offers a strategic rationale for zero-sum thinking in elections. We show that asymmetric information and distributional considerations together make voters wary of policies supported by others. This force impels a majority of voters to support policies contrary to their preferences and information. Our analysis identifies and interprets a form of “adverse correlation” that is necessary and sufficient for zero-sum thinking to prevail in equilibrium.
Keywords
Voting, populism, distributive politics, polarization, fragility, adverse selection
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