I&I - Election vibes vs. substance

In this month’s installment of Incentives & Instincts, our recurring series with economist Bryce Ward, Justin and Bryce question the effectiveness of our current election system in helping us to choose the candidates whose policies will best reflect our perception of problems and priorities. Bryce introduces the concept of deliberative polling as a potential solution, which could provide citizens with the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions with candidates and each other. They reflect on the limitations of soundbite-driven politics and campaign ads, noting how the current system often focuses more on emotional resonance than actual problem-solving.