Replication data for: Geography, International Trade, and Political Mobilization in U.S. Industries

From studies of so-called "Silicon Valley effects" to regional economic development, the spatial proximity of firms has shed new light on some of the most enduring puzzles in business and economics. Yet few studies have examined whether spatial proximity leads firms with shared interests to be more active in politics. We take up this question, examining whether geographic concentration makes industries competing for export markets or against imports more likely to mobilize politically. Studying U.S. manufacturers in 1988 and 1990, we find that for such traded industries, geographic concentration strongly increases: (a) the formation of common trade policy preferences among workers; (b) voter turnout; (c) inter-firm collaboration in the form of political action committees (PACs); and (d) individual- and industry-level investment in campaign contributions. In short, geographic concentration increases political mobilization on the part of traded industries across the board.