The 2004 Presidential Election:
Did Voters Bring Their Pocketbooks to the Polls?

By Paul Masi '06

Introduction

The Davidson Economic Times and Review has been a student run and student maintained website since 2001. Up to now, it has featured short articles written by students about various economic topics ranging from global macroeconomic trends to career and job advice. With this new section, we hope to include more rigorous publications students have written during summer research or semester long independent studies.

Our first article will be from Paul Masi's Fall `05 independent study with Professor Fred Smith. Paul used rigorous econometric analysis to study the relationship between socioeconomic status and voting trends in the United States during the 2004 presidential election. Paul presented this paper in Chicago at the 2006 Midwestern Economic Association Conference and will be published in the Illinois Wesley University Undergraduate Economic review.

I've known Paul for 4 years and I think this paper encompasses everything that a Davidson Graduate should take away from our rigorous economics education. I highly suggest reading through this paper; though not as light reading. Enjoy!

 ~Sean Sonni '06