The Cotton Influence Index: An Examination of U.S. Cotton Subsidies
构建了一个棉花影响力指数，衡量美国议员在2002年农业法案听证会上支持棉农的程度，并发现该指数与竞选捐款、棉花种植面积、党派和意识形态相关。
Abstract Given the lack of a bill or amendment specific to cotton, we introduce a Cotton Influence Index to capture legislators’ influence in championing the cause of the cotton growers during the hearings of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. Regression analyses reveal a relationship between Cotton Influence Index and campaign contributions, cotton farmland, party affiliation, and ideology. Tobit analysis indicates a significant relationship between different “actions and participations” by representatives to advance the interest of cotton—that is, components of this index and their future cotton political action committees’ (PACs) contributions to them.