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How does historical trauma affect political participation? Evidence from the send‐down movement in China

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Listed:
  • Xinzheng Shi
  • Ming‐ang Zhang

Abstract

Taking advantage of China's send‐down movement as a natural experiment, we investigate how experiencing a political movement during adolescence affects political participation decades later. Using data from the China Family Panel Survey and the regression discontinuity design, we find that the send‐down experience significantly reduces individuals’ political participation, measured by their participation in community committee elections, time spent on community service activities and how much they care about public news. Further analysis suggests that the send‐down experience negatively affects political participation through poorer mental health and less trust in local government.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinzheng Shi & Ming‐ang Zhang, 2020. "How does historical trauma affect political participation? Evidence from the send‐down movement in China," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 3-43, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:ectrin:v:28:y:2020:i:1:p:3-43
    DOI: 10.1111/ecot.12236
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Katherine Baicker & Amy Finkelstein, 2018. "The Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Voter Participation: Evidence from the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment," NBER Working Papers 25244, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Yang Yao & Nancy Qia & Monica Martinez Bravo & Gerard Padro i Miquel, 2011. "Do Local Elections in Non-Democracies Increase Accountability? Evidence from Rural China," Working Papers id:3931, eSocialSciences.
    3. Filipe Campante & Ruben Durante & Francesco Sobbrio, 2018. "Politics 2.0: The Multifaceted Effect of Broadband Internet on Political Participation," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 16(4), pages 1094-1136.
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    Cited by:

    1. Limin Du & Zhenhao Lai & Jinchuan Shi & Zheng Wang, 2024. "Comrades from the town: How did a factory‐commune pairing policy during the Send‐Down Movement propel rural industrialization in China?," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(1), pages 25-47, January.
    2. Gabriel Fuentes Cordoba, 2021. "Growing up in a civil war and political participation: Evidence from Guatemala," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(2), pages 197-225, April.
    3. Liang, Yu & Dong, Jing, 2022. "The impact of the send-down experience on the health of elderly Chinese women: Evidence from the China family panel studies," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 377-389.

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