TEC (Theory) Seminar: Ernesto Dal Bo, University of California, Berkeley

Speaker

Ernesto Dal Bo, University of California, Berkeley

Biography

Ernesto Dal Bó is a political economist interested in governance broadly understood. His research focuses on a range of topics: political influence, social conflict, corruption, morality and social norms, state formation, the development of state capabilities, and the qualities and behavior of politicians and public servants. Most of his teaching takes place in the Berkeley MBA program and at the doctoral level where he teaches courses on political economy.

Expertise and Research Interests

• Political Economy
• Democratic Institutions and Collective Decision-making
• Influence and Corruption
• Morality, Coercion, and Conflict
• State Formation and State Capabilities

Title

When Democracy Refuses to Die: Evaluating a Training Program for New Politicians

Abstract

We evaluate a program in Brazil that seeks to lower barriers to political entry by training new politicians. We address three main challenges: selection bias from screening, self-selection into candidacy, and the need to quantify both selection and training effects in a holistic evaluation. The program doubled candidacy rates and increased electoral success by 55%. Screening accounted for 30% of the increase in candidacy and 43% of the increase in election rates, while making the candidate pool more diverse, competent, and committed to democratic values. We characterize some supply- and demand-side trade-offs facing attempts to renew the political class.