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Social Fragmentation, Public Goods and Elections: Evidence from China

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  • Qian, Nancy
  • Padró i Miquel, Gerard
  • Yao, Yang

Abstract

This study examines how the economic effects of elections in rural China depend on voter heterogeneity, for which we proxy with religious fractionalization. We first document religious composition and the introduction of village-level elections for a nearly nationally representative sample of over two hundred villages. Then, we examine the interaction effect of heterogeneity and the introduction of elections on village-government provision of public goods. The interaction effect is negative. We interpret this as evidence that voter heterogeneity constrains the potential benefits of elections for public goods provision.

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  • Qian, Nancy & Padró i Miquel, Gerard & Yao, Yang, 2013. "Social Fragmentation, Public Goods and Elections: Evidence from China," CEPR Discussion Papers 9278, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:9278
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    2. Qian, Nancy & Nunn, Nathan & Wen, Jaya, 2018. "Distrust and Political Turnover," CEPR Discussion Papers 12555, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Taisu Zhang & Xiaoxue Zhao, 2014. "Do Kinship Networks Strengthen Private Property? Evidence from Rural China," Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(3), pages 505-540, September.
    4. repec:spo:wpecon:info:hdl:2441/6ggbvnr6munghes9ocpp7f52o is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Samuel Bazzi & Matthew Gudgeon, "undated". "Local Government Proliferation, Diversity, and Conflict," Boston University - Department of Economics - The Institute for Economic Development Working Papers Series dp-271, Boston University - Department of Economics.
    6. Alberto Alesina & Caterina Gennaioli & Stefania Lovo, 2019. "Public Goods and Ethnic Diversity: Evidence from Deforestation in Indonesia," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 86(341), pages 32-66, January.
    7. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/6ggbvnr6munghes9ocpp7f52o is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Guojun He & Shaoda Wang, 2017. "Do College Graduates Serving as Village Officials Help Rural China?," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 9(4), pages 186-215, October.
    9. Qian, Nancy & Martinez-Bravo, Monica & Padró i Miquel, Gerard & Yao, Yan, 2017. "The Rise and Fall of Local Elections in China: Theory and Empirical Evidence on the Autocrat's Trade-off," CEPR Discussion Papers 12439, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    10. Pal, Sarmistha & Wahhaj, Zaki, 2017. "Fiscal decentralisation, local institutions and public good provision: evidence from Indonesia," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 383-409.
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    13. Neha Deopa & Daniele Rinaldo, 2023. "Sacred Ecology: The Environmental Impact of African Traditional Religions," Papers 2401.13673, arXiv.org.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Democracy; Fractionalization; Pre-conditions; Religion; Voter heterogeneity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • P1 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies

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