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Turnout and fractionalization

Author

Listed:
  • Ignacio Lago
  • Sandra Bermúdez
  • Marc Guinjoan
  • Pablo Simón

Abstract

The literature has largely shown that social fragmentation is negatively correlated with the quality of government. Surprisingly, fragmentation has been omitted in most influential cross-sectional studies of turnout, and when it has been included evidence is, at best, mixed. Using aggregated data from 22 countries and individual data from Canada and Spain, this article examines the impact of social heterogeneity on turnout. The results show that turnout is inversely related to ethnolinguistic fractionalization, even after controlling for institutional, political and socioeconomic determinants. However, social fragmentation only affects the behavior of those individuals who lack a strong internal motivation to vote.

Suggested Citation

  • Ignacio Lago & Sandra Bermúdez & Marc Guinjoan & Pablo Simón, 2014. "Turnout and fractionalization," Working Papers. Collection A: Public economics, governance and decentralization 1404, Universidade de Vigo, GEN - Governance and Economics research Network.
    • Handle: RePEc:gov:wpaper:1404
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    File URL: http://infogen.webs.uvigo.es/WP/WP1404.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fractionalization; Turnout; Heterogeneity; Civic Duty; Social Capital.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Y80 - Miscellaneous Categories - - Related Disciplines - - - Related Disciplines
    • Z18 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Public Policy

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