Trade-offs between civil liberties and national security: A discrete choice experiment

We explore differences in perception of national security policies between selfidentified liberals, moderates, and conservatives from a national sample of U.S. adults. Using a discrete choice experiment, we also quantify each group’s willingness to trade off select policies in exchange for reduced risk of a 9/11-style terrorist attack. Relative to other groups, liberals are more likely to view such policies as ineffective and susceptible to government abuse. They also perceive a lower threat of terrorism. All groups are willing to make trade-offs between civil liberties and risk of a terrorist attack. However, loss of civil liberties affects liberals more than conservatives. (JEL D61, H41, H56).

Duke Scholars

Author Eric Andrew Finkelstein Population Health Sciences

Author Semra Ozdemir Population Health Sciences