New research | Personality traits and cognitive ability in political selection

A new study co-authored by Jaakko Meriläinen from the Stockholm School of Economics shows that Finnish politicians are, on average, more skilled and conscientious than the general population. By analyzing data on male military conscripts’ cognitive and non-cognitive abilities from the Finnish Defense Forces, researchers found that both candidates and elected politicians display above-average traits linked to competence, motivation, and honesty.

The findings challenge concerns that voters lack the information needed to choose capable politicians. In Finland's open-list electoral system, where every voter must vote for a single candidate out of many, voters effectively identify and elect candidates with superior skills.

“Despite the complexity of the electoral process, voters seem capable of identifying and supporting candidates with traits that contribute to effective political leadership,” says Jaakko Meriläinen, Assistant Professor at the Stockholm School of Economics.

Local and national leaders excel in skills
The research reveals that local politicians score similarly to individuals in high-skill occupations or those with undergraduate degrees. National politicians perform even better, with higher cognitive scores and significantly stronger non-cognitive abilities.

Some have feared that open-list systems might encourage corruption or favor candidates with celebrity status. Instead, voters tend to select candidates with qualities like leadership motivation, teamwork ability, and honesty.

“Perhaps voters are not as easily misled by flashy campaigns as some might think,” adds Meriläinen. “Instead, they make informed decisions that reward competence.”

Better politicians, better policies
The study also found that positive selection impacts policy outcomes. Municipalities with politicians who score highly on leadership motivation tend to experience better fiscal health.

The study, published in the Journal of the European Economic Association, contributes to a growing body of research showing that political systems can effectively select competent leaders—even in systems that give voters significant influence.