How Attribution Inhibits Accountability: Evidence from Train Delays

34 Pages Posted: 22 Sep 2015 Last revised: 26 May 2018

See all articles by Justin de Benedictis-Kessner

Justin de Benedictis-Kessner

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)

Date Written: April 4, 2018

Abstract

Do people hold politicians accountable for the performance of government? I test this question using individual-level experiences with the performance of one major public service: transportation. I compile records of transit performance, tracked via individuals’ fare transactions and train delays, and link these data to opinion surveys. I show that people perceive different levels of performance, but fail to connect performance with judgments of government. I build on this by testing the importance of responsibility attribution on people’s ability to hold government accountable. I find that when people are experimentally provided with information on government responsibilities, they are able to connect their experiences of performance with their opinions of government. These results demonstrate that confusion about government responsibilities can frustrate accountability.

Keywords: accountability, local politics, attribution, public transportation

Suggested Citation

de Benedictis-Kessner, Justin, How Attribution Inhibits Accountability: Evidence from Train Delays (April 4, 2018). MIT Political Science Department Research Paper No. 2015-22, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2663604 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2663604

Justin De Benedictis-Kessner (Contact Author)

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) ( email )

79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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