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The Political Economy of the Prussian Three-Class Franchise

Author

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  • Becker, Sascha O.
  • Hornung, Erik

Abstract

How did the Prussian three-class franchise, which politically over-represented the economic elite, affect policies? Contrary to the predominant and simplistic view that the system allowed the landed elites to capture most political rents, we find that members of parliament from constituencies with a higher vote inequality support more liberal policies, gauging their political orientation from the universe of roll call votes cast in parliament during Prussia’s rapid industrialization (1867–1903). Consistent with the characteristics of German liberalism that aligned with economic interests of business, the link between vote inequality and liberal voting is stronger in regions with large-scale industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Becker, Sascha O. & Hornung, Erik, 2020. "The Political Economy of the Prussian Three-Class Franchise," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 80(4), pages 1143-1188, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:80:y:2020:i:4:p:1143-1188_7
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    Cited by:

    1. repec:osf:socarx:5y9wf_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Veselov, Dmitry & Yarkin, Alexander, 2024. "Lobbying for Industrialization: Theory and Evidence," IZA Discussion Papers 17045, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Bartels, Charlotte & Kersting, Felix & Wolf, Nikolaus, 2021. "Testing Marx. Income Inequality, Concentration, and Socialism in Late 19th Century Germany," SocArXiv 5y9wf, Center for Open Science.
    4. Mares, Isabela & Queralt, Didac, 2020. "Fiscal innovation in nondemocratic regimes: Elites and the adoption of the prussian income taxes of the 1890s⁎," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    5. Tommy Krieger, 2024. "Elites and health infrastructure improvements in industrializing regimes," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 433-468, September.
    6. Tommy Krieger, 2022. "Elites and Health Infrastructure Improvements in Industrializing Regimes," CESifo Working Paper Series 9808, CESifo.
    7. Lacroix, Jean & Méon, Pierre-Guillaume & Oosterlinck, Kim, 2023. "Political Dynasties in Defense of Democracy: The Case of France’s 1940 Enabling Act," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 83(2), pages 359-397, June.
    8. Krieger, Tommy, 2020. "Elite structure and the provision of health-promoting public goods," ZEW Discussion Papers 20-064, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • N43 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N93 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • P26 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Property Rights

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