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Do elections make you sick? Evidence from first‐time voters

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  • Hung‐Hao Chang
  • Chad D. Meyerhoefer

Abstract

Elections permit the continuance of democracy and enable economic development, but may have unintended effects on health. By applying a two‐part model with regression discontinuity design to administrative health care claims, we determine that elections increased health care use during legally specified campaign periods by as much as 19% for first‐time voters. Contrary to earlier studies focusing on mental health, we find higher spending on the treatment of physical health conditions, such as acute respiratory infections, gastrointestinal conditions and injuries. Levels of medical spending during campaign periods were highest in rural areas and among low‐to‐middle‐income men. Using data on campaign spending from local elections, we identify campaign rallies as one important mechanism for the transmission of disease. Our findings provide additional rationale for policies that limit campaign spending on the grounds that it is socially wasteful.

Suggested Citation

  • Hung‐Hao Chang & Chad D. Meyerhoefer, 2023. "Do elections make you sick? Evidence from first‐time voters," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(5), pages 1064-1083, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:32:y:2023:i:5:p:1064-1083
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.4655
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    Cited by:

    1. Mukhopadhyay, Sankar, 2022. "Elections have (health) consequences: Depression, anxiety, and the 2020 presidential election," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    2. Daniel J. Smith & George R. Crowley & J. Sebastian Leguizamon, 2021. "Long live the doge? Death as a term limit on Venetian chief executives," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 188(3), pages 333-359, September.
    3. Niederdeppe, Jeff & Avery, Rosemary J. & Liu, Jiawei & Gollust, Sarah E. & Baum, Laura & Barry, Colleen L. & Welch, Brendan & Tabor, Emmett & Lee, Nathaniel W. & Fowler, Erika Franklin, 2021. "Exposure to televised political campaign advertisements aired in the United States 2015–2016 election cycle and psychological distress," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    4. Schreiner, Nicolas, 2021. "Changes in Well-Being Around Elections," Working papers 2021/03, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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