Economics
The Strategy of Pork Barrel Spending in Congressional Districts
Quick fact
Members of Congress often vote for bills that contain pork for others, even if they are fiscally conservative, because they expect similar support for their own projects—a practice called 'logrolling.'
Why this is interesting
Why do politicians fight for funds that go to a single bridge or a museum in a small town, while larger national priorities get ignored? The answer is a clever strategy that turns government spending into a tool for re-election.