Structural homes for political innovation

Posted 12/17/19

Political campaigns have an incentive against innovation, which is that they work towards a single binary outcome with no second chances. If there's a path to victory with familiar tools, this one-time binary goal disincentivizes trying anything unproven (e.g. tools, techniques, or ideas).

Another obstacle to innovation in campaigns is that most are underfunded and overworked; but this is different only in degree from e.g. the corporate sector, where people are also cost-conscious and busy.

Two political contexts come to mind as having more structural openness to innovation:

1. Political organizations

Organizations don’t face the one-time binary outcome and so tend to be more receptive to innovation (though they are still underfunded and busy).

2. Long-shot campaigns

Underdogs mostly can’t win unless they try being different. Also, fewer people are reaching out to offer assistance. So long-shot candidates and campaign staff tend to be more open when approached with new things.

If you’ve seen other patterns of where political innovation is structurally welcome or unwelcome, please write and let me know!