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The redistributive effects of enfranchising non-citizens. Evidence from Sweden

Author

Listed:
  • Iñigo Iturbe-Ormaetxe

    (: Departamento de Fundamentos del An·lisis EconÛmico (FAE), Universidad de Alicante.)

  • Santiago Sanchez-Pages

    (King's College London.)

  • Angel Solano-Garcia

    (Department of Economic Theory and Economic History, University of Granada.)

Abstract

We study theoretically and empirically the redistributive effects of extending voting rights to non-citizens. Our model predicts a tax increase when newly enfranchised voters represent a sufficiently large fraction of voters. We study the 1975 Swedish electoral reform that extended voting rights to non-citizens in municipal elections. In the first term after the reform, there was a tax increase that was not repeated in subsequent terms. This increase was stronger the greater the foreign population in the municipality. This effect was concentrated in municipalities where the size of the non-citizen population was large enough to upturn the previous electoral outcome.

Suggested Citation

  • Iñigo Iturbe-Ormaetxe & Santiago Sanchez-Pages & Angel Solano-Garcia, 2021. "The redistributive effects of enfranchising non-citizens. Evidence from Sweden," ThE Papers 21/10, Department of Economic Theory and Economic History of the University of Granada..
    • Handle: RePEc:gra:wpaper:21/10
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    : Immigration; Conflict; Income redistribution; Inequality; enfranchisement.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration

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