In this paper we investigate the degree of occupational following in politics, and its impact upon the career success, and behavior (while in office) of both sons and fathers. We find that sons follow into their politician/fathers' footsteps to a degree surpassed in the general population only among farmers and self‐employed proprietors. There is substantial, indirect evidence which suggests that following is motivated to a large extent by the transfer of valuable name recognition and voter loyalty.
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Laband et al. (1985) studied this question.