Voter turnout and intergenerational redistribution

Michael Klien, Mickael Melki and Andrew Pickering

Journal of Comparative Economics, 2021, vol. 49, issue 2, 603-626

Abstract: Electoral reforms that lead to reduced turnout modify the composition of the electorate, potentially overrepresenting specific interests in policy implementation. Intergenerational redistribution tilts in favor of the elderly when they are sufficiently numerous, but in favor of the young rich otherwise. We exploit a natural experiment provided by the repeal of compulsory voting in Austrian parliamentary elections to study how exogenous turnout decline affects intergenerational redistribution through pro-young public education spending in Austrian municipalities. Empirically, education spending falls when the proportion of elderly voters exceeds 21% of the electorate, but rises when the proportion of elderly voters is below this threshold.

Keywords: Voter turnout; Education spending; Compulsory voting; Intergenerational redistribution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 I2 J1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jcecon:v:49:y:2021:i:2:p:603-626

DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2020.07.004

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