American Economic Journal:
Microeconomics
ISSN 1945-7669 (Print) | ISSN 1945-7685 (Online)
Sequential Protest Formation
American Economic Journal: Microeconomics
(pp. 392–425)
Abstract
People participate in protests even though it is costly, benefits are not exclusive to participants, and each individual is unlikely to be pivotal. Building on these characteristics, I propose a sequential model of protest formation where opportunities to participate arrive stochastically, and the protest succeeds if participation surpasses a threshold. I show a unique equilibrium exists and characterize its dynamics. If the unique equilibrium involves participation, the time between participation decisions shortens as the protest progresses—a pattern observed empirically. A player with an opportunity becomes sequentially pivotal if, after abstaining, the protest will likely end before another opportunity arrives.Citation
Matta, Benjamin. 2026. "Sequential Protest Formation." American Economic Journal: Microeconomics 18 (3): 392–425. DOI: 10.1257/mic.20230241Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D72 Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
- D84 Expectations; Speculations
- D91 Micro-Based Behavioral Economics: Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making