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How Decisive \textit{Is} the Decisive Voter?

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Author Info
Eric J. Brunner (Quinnipiac University)
Stephen L. Ross (University of Connecticut)

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Abstract

This paper examines whether the voter with the median income is decisive in local spending decisions. Previous tests have relied on cross-sectional data while we make use of a pair of California referenda to estimate a first difference specification. The referenda proposed to lower the required vote share for passing local educational bonding initiatives from 67 to 50 percent and 67 to 55 percent, respectively. The jurisdiction median income appears to accurately capture the expected outcomes of majority votes on public service spending, and voters rationally consider such future public service decisions when deciding how to vote on voting rules

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by University of Connecticut, Department of Economics in its series Working papers with number 2007-28.

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Length: 37 pages
Date of creation: Jul 2007
Date of revision: Feb 2008
Handle: RePEc:uct:uconnp:2007-28

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Postal: University of Connecticut 341 Mansfield Road, Unit 1063 Storrs, CT 06269-1063
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Related research
Keywords: Median Voter Hypothesis Voting School Spending

Find related papers by JEL classification:
H4 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods
H7 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations
I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education

This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

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    Other versions:
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  16. Romer, Thomas & Rosenthal, Howard, 1979. "Bureaucrats versus Voters: On the Political Economy of Resource Allocation by Direct Democracy," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 93(4), pages 563-87, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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