The Supply Side

This project maps and analyzes the supply side of elections and, in collaboration with the other projects in this research program, how parties and candidates interact with voters and the mass media. The Supply Side addresses classic and novel research questions on the dynamics in parties’ issue emphasis and party position-taking, the focus of parties on their leaders, and how parties deal with their rivals and with track records, and the candidates' and constituency parties' campaign stragegies 'on the ground'.

During the general election campaign, the Supply Side collects data that jointly provide a comprehensive overview of political supply. It does so mainly via detailed quantitative analyses of (a) party manifestos, (b) advertisment & newspapers, (c) party websites, and (d) social media accounts (on Facebook and Twitter).

Researchers of the Supply Side are particularly interested in the dynamics of party and candidate behavior in the election campaign. They analyze the parties' emphasis of policy issues, their track record and their engagement in negative campaigning over the course of the election campaign. In line with most of the current research on parties, the research team also analyzes party behavior in the long run by comparing parties over several electoral cycles.

For further information on the third funding period (2017-2019) of 'The Supply Side' follow this Link.

For further information on the second funding period (2013-2016) of 'The Supply Side' follow this Link.

For further information on the first funding period (2009-2012) of 'The Supply Side' follow this Link.