New research from Northwestern University reveals significant insights into how economic considerations impact American voters’ commitment to democratic principles. The study conducted by the Center for Communication & Public Policy (CCPP) highlights a troubling trend: financial hardships can undermine support for democratic norms among U.S. residents.
Published in the journal Perspectives on Politics, the study, led by Erik Nisbet, the Owen L. Coon Endowed Professor of Policy Analysis & Communication, and doctoral candidate Chloe Mortenson, utilized an advanced behavioral experiment involving over 600 participants. The goal was to gauge how economic security influences voters’ prioritization of democratic values.
Key Findings on Democracy and Economic Security
The researchers employed a conjoint design, a method gaining traction in political science, to reveal real-world preferences. Participants were presented with hypothetical countries differing across four key dimensions of democracy: rule of law, political equality, freedom of expression, and economic well-being. By forcing respondents to make choices between competing values, the study mimicked the complex trade-offs faced in actual political scenarios.
Four critical findings emerged from the research:
“Traditional surveys typically ask people whether they support democracy or value free expression. Decades of research show that Americans overwhelmingly say ‘yes,’ but these self-reported attitudes often do not predict actual political behavior,” explains Nisbet.
First, the study found that economic insecurity significantly undermines support for democratic principles. Respondents were far more likely to prioritize democratic norms when their personal economic conditions were stable. Conversely, support for rule of law and political equality dropped considerably under economic strain.
Second, there was a noticeable disconnect between what Americans profess about democracy and their actual choices. Many individuals who claimed to strongly support democratic ideals were willing to compromise those values when faced with economic disadvantages.
Third, economic well-being emerged as the strongest influence on democratic trade-offs. Participants who felt financially secure expressed greater support for liberal democratic principles. In contrast, those facing economic challenges demonstrated increased tolerance for illiberal practices, including biased media and unequal treatment under the law.
Lastly, the research indicated that age and education were more significant predictors of commitment to democratic norms than political ideology. This suggests that the willingness to sacrifice democratic principles is not confined to any particular political party.
Implications for Future Elections
The findings of this study carry important implications for upcoming elections, particularly the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election. Nisbet emphasizes that messages centered solely on abstract democratic ideals are unlikely to resonate with voters unless they are tied to economic realities. He notes that while a small segment of voters responds to moral appeals, broader electorates require narratives that connect democracy to their financial concerns.
Nisbet warns that this disconnect negatively impacted democratic messaging during the 2024 U.S. election cycle and advises political strategists to avoid similar pitfalls in future campaigns. He argues that understanding the relationship between economic conditions and voter behavior is crucial for effective political communication.
As political landscapes continue to evolve, this research underscores the importance of addressing economic issues alongside democratic values to engage the electorate effectively.
For further reading, see the study by Mortenson et al., titled “Benefit Seekers or Principle Holders? Experimental Evidence on Americans’ Democratic Trade-Offs,” published in Perspectives on Politics in 2025.
