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Voters’ responsiveness to public employment policies

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  • Marta Curto-Grau

    (Heidelberg University and Barcelona Institute of Economics (IEB))

Abstract

This paper examines the electoral rewards for the distribution of public employment. We focus on the Spanish Plan for Rural Employment, a public jobs program introduced by the central government in two lagging regions. We evaluate voters’ responsiveness to this policy using municipal-level electoral data and employ an estimator that combines difference-in-differences with propensity score matching. The main findings are that the program lead to an increase in the vote share for the ruling party in the treated municipalities. This effect is very persistent over the years, and it is unlikely to be explained by turnout buying.

Suggested Citation

  • Marta Curto-Grau, 2017. "Voters’ responsiveness to public employment policies," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 170(1), pages 143-169, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:170:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11127-016-0388-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11127-016-0388-6
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    6. Michał Pilc, 2018. "Should the Government Provide Jobs for Everyone? Societal Expectations and Their Impact on Labour Market Institutions and Outcomes," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 4, pages 179-210.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Redistribution; Public employment; Electoral rewards; Difference-in-differences matching estimator;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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