Love Thy Neighbor, Love Thy Kin: Strategy and Bias in the Eurovision Song Contest

Ekonomia, Vol. 15, No. 1, Summer 2012

23 Pages Posted: 22 Feb 2006 Last revised: 27 Dec 2021

See all articles by Sofronis Clerides

Sofronis Clerides

University of Cyprus; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); University of Bologna - Rimini Center for Economic Analysis (RCEA)

Thanasis Stengos

University of Guelph - Department of Economics

Date Written: 2012

Abstract

The annual Eurovision Song Contest provides a setting where Europeans can express their sentiments about other countries without regard to political sensitivities. Analyzing voting data from the 25 contests between 1981-2005, we find strong evidence for the existence of clusters of countries that systematically exchange votes regardless of the quality of their entries. Cultural, geographic, economic and political factors are important determinants of point exchanges. Factors such as order of appearance, language and gender are also important. There is also a substantial host country effect. We find some evidence of reciprocity but no evidence of strategic voting.

Keywords: Eurovision, social networks, reciprocity

JEL Classification: Z13

Suggested Citation

Clerides, Sofronis and Stengos, Thanasis, Love Thy Neighbor, Love Thy Kin: Strategy and Bias in the Eurovision Song Contest (2012). Ekonomia, Vol. 15, No. 1, Summer 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=882383 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.882383

Sofronis Clerides (Contact Author)

University of Cyprus ( email )

75 Kallipoleos Street
P.O. Box 20537
1678 Nicosia
Cyprus
+357 2289 3709 (Phone)
+357 2289 5049 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://sofronis.clerides.com

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) ( email )

London
United Kingdom

University of Bologna - Rimini Center for Economic Analysis (RCEA) ( email )

Via Patara, 3
Rimini (RN), RN 47900
Italy

Thanasis Stengos

University of Guelph - Department of Economics ( email )

50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1
Canada

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