Pocketbook Voting and Social Preferences in Referenda

Johannes Meya, Panu Poutvaara and Robert Schwager

No 5267, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: We study the role of self-interest and social preferences in referenda. Our analysis is based on collective purchasing decisions of university students on deep-discount flat rate tickets for public transportation and culture. Individual usage data allows quantifying monetary benefits associated with each ticket. We find that turnout is much higher among students who benefit a lot from having a ticket, suggesting instrumental voting. In each referendum, a majority votes in line with self-interest, providing strong evidence for pocketbook voting. However, social preferences like altruism, public good considerations and paternalism shift the vote of a sizable minority against their own financial interest.

Keywords: pocketbook voting; social preferences; altruism; instrumental voting; public goods; referendum (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D64 D72 H41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Working Paper: Pocketbook voting and social preferences in referenda (2015)
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