Voter Turnout and Fiscal Policy

Article dans une revue: In this paper, we examine whether shocks in voting costs can impact elected representatives' quality, defined as the capacity to fund projects at the lowest cost. Using data on French municipalities and local variations in seasonal infections incidence as a shock on voting cost, we estimate that higher incidence lowers voter turnout, increases subsidies obtained by a municipality, decreases harmful financial decisions, and increases the municipality's investment in infrastructure. We present a model where these predictions would hold, in particular for municipalities with a high base level of turnout.

Auteur(s)

Raphael Godefroy, Emeric Henry

Revue
  • European Economic Review
Date de publication
  • 2016
Mots-clés
  • Turnout
  • Public finance
Référence interne
  • 2441/dc0ckec3fcb29ms9850cia1sj
Pages
  • 389 – 406
Version
  • 1
Volume
  • 89