Strategic ambiguity in electoral competition

Many have observed that political candidates running for election areoften purposefully expressing themselves in vague and ambiguous terms. In thispaper we provide a simple formal model of this phenomenon. We model theelectoral competition between two candidates as a two--stage game. In thefirst stage of the game two candidates simultaneously choose their ideologies,and in the second stage they simultaneously choose their level of ambiguity.Our results show that ambiguity, although disliked by voters, may be sustainedin equilibrium. The introduction of ambiguity as a strategic choice variablefor the candidates can also serve to explain why candidates with the sameelectoral objectives end up ``separating'', that is, assuming different ideological positions.

On forward induction and evolutionary and strategic stability

We analyze which normal form solution concepts capture the notion offorward induction, as defined by van Damme (JET, 1989) in the classof generic two player normal form games preceded by an outsideoption. We find that none of the known strategic stability concepts(including Mertens stable sets and hyperstable sets) captures this form of forward induction. On the other hand, we show that the evolutionary concept of EES set (Swinkels, JET, 1992) is always consistent with forward induction.

Wireless E911 Emergency Communications Fund Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division of the Iowa Department of Public Defense independent auditor's reports, basic financial statements and supplementary information, June 30, 2007.

Audit report on the Wireless E911 Emergency Communication Fund of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division of the Iowa Department of Public Defense for the year ended June 30, 2007

Audit report on the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) for the year ended June 30, 2007

Audit report on the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) for the year ended June 30, 2007

Iowa Communications Network Performance Plan, FY 2009

Agency Performance Plan, Iowa Communications Network

Iowa Department of Corrections, Strategic Plan 2008-2012, October 2008

This report outlines the strategic plan for Iowa Department of Corrections including,goals and mission.

Commission and Division on the Status of Iowans of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage 2007-2010 Strategic Plan, 2007

This report outlines the strategic plan for Commission and Division on the Status of Iowans of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage (CAPI) 2007-2010 Strategic Plan including,goals and mission.

Iowa Civil Rights Commission Strategic Plan 2005-2006

This report outlines the strategic plan for Iowa Civil Rights Commission Strategic Plan 2005-2006 including,goals and mission.

Iowa College Student Aid Commission Strategic Plan 2006-2009

This report outlines the strategic plan for Iowa College Student Aid Commissions including,goals and mission.

Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, Strategic Plan, 2003

This report outlines the strategic plan for Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division including, goals and mission.

Iowa Utilities Board, Strategic Plan, 2008

This report outlines the strategic plan for Iowa Utilities Board including, goals and mission.

Iowa Commercial Banking, Strategic Plan, 2003

This report outlines the strategic plan for Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division including, goals and mission.

Iowa Credit Union Division, Strategic Plan, 2008

This report outlines the strategic plan for Credit Union Division including, goals and mission.

Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, Strategic Plan 2008-2011, 2008

This report outlines the strategic plan for Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, goals and mission.

Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, Strategic Plan 2008-2011, 2008

This report outlines the strategic plan for Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, goals and mission.