The Curley Effect: Political Exit and Entrenched Power

The Curley Effect describes a political-incentive mechanism in which an incumbent may benefit electorally when opposing constituencies move away, even if outmigration harms the local economy. Developed by Edward Glaeser and Andrei Shleifer through the history of Boston mayor James Michael Curley, the model challenges the assumption that exit always disciplines leaders. ryo.news applies the theory carefully to questions of political sorting, governance, institutional competition and network communities, without treating it as proof of any contemporary politician's intentions.