Economics
The Impact of Campaign Finance Regulations on Electoral Competition
Quick fact
The 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC allowed unlimited independent political spending by corporations and unions, leading to a surge in Super PACs. This dramatically changed how money flows into elections, often bypassing contribution limits and undermining the effects of earlier regulations.
Why this is interesting
What if the rules meant to keep elections fair actually made it harder for new challengers to win? That is the puzzle campaign finance regulation presents — a well-intentioned law that may sometimes do the opposite of what it promises.