Valuing Congressional Social Networks: Senate Social Centrality and Federal Allocations

Abstract

In this paper, I assess the value of Congressional social networks using a series of econometric models and federal allocations to respective states. My main data set consists of all Congressional co-sponsorship connections from the 93rd to 108th Congress (1973-2004). Using this complex graph of relationships over a 24-year period in conjunction with published federal allocations, I assess how different social influences throughout Senate politics shift money throughout the United States. I find that a one standard deviation increase in senator social capital is associated with increases in allocation of 13.0–18.1%. I also find a significant relationship between allocation outcomes and a series of state-level economic controls and Senate-level controls.