We report the results of a laboratory experiment based on a citizen‐candidate model with private information about ideal points. Inefficient political polarization is observed in all treatments; that is, citizens with extreme ideal points enter as candidates more often than moderate citizens....

The quantal response equilibrium (QRE) is an extension of the standard model of Nash equilibrium which allows for errors in choice. The QRE can be viewed as a generalization of statistical models of discrete choice behavior of individuals to a game theoretic setting. Just like in discrete choice...