Bipartisan Firms

ABSTRACT Corporate donations significantly shape the landscape of US presidential elections, yet we have a limited understanding of how firms' internal finances and external political risks influence these contributions. Using a data set that merges firm‐level information with campaign records from 1992 to 2020, we analyze the propensity, intensity, and distribution of corporate giving between parties. We find that while companies often employ a bipartisan donation strategy, they consistently exhibit a stronger preference for Republican candidates. We further show that escalating political polarization is associated with a 2% increase in the likelihood of donating and a 21.8% rise in total contributions, especially among non‐research‐oriented sectors. These patterns underscore the importance of both financial imperatives and broader political incentives in driving firms' campaign finance decisions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Economics and Politics
Published
2025-07-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/ecpo.70010
Primary Topic
Political Influence and Corporate Strategies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Bipartisan Firms

Lorenzo Rocco, Emanuele Caggiano
Economics and Politics
Political Influence and Corporate Strategies
article

Bipartisan Firms

Lorenzo Rocco, Emanuele Caggiano
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Corporate donations significantly shape the landscape of US presidential elections, yet we have a limited understanding of how firms' internal finances and external political risks influence these contributions. Using a data set that merges firm‐level information with campaign records from 1992 to 2020, we analyze the propensity, intensity, and distribution of corporate giving between parties. We find that while companies often employ a bipartisan donation strategy, they consistently exhibit a stronger preference for Republican candidates. We further show that escalating political polarization is associated with a 2% increase in the likelihood of donating and a 21.8% rise in total contributions, especially among non‐research‐oriented sectors. These patterns underscore the importance of both financial imperatives and broader political incentives in driving firms' campaign finance decisions.

Economics and PoliticsVol. 38(1)
Roma Tre University (IT), University of Padua (IT)
Openalex Percentile: Top 70%
Political Influence and Corporate Strategies
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