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Regional Favoritism: New Data, Larger Sample, Same Pattern

Author

Listed:
  • Christian Düben
  • Roland Hodler
  • Paul A. Raschky

Abstract

Hodler and Raschky (2014) provide evidence for regional favoritism by documenting that subnational regions have more intense nighttime lights when they are the birth region of the country's current political leader than at other times. In this paper, we test the robustness of their findings using new data on nighttime light emissions and the birthplaces of political leaders, resulting in a larger sample with many more countries and years. We confirm that leader birth regions have more intense nighttime lights and that this effect is larger in countries with high ethnic fractionalization, undemocratic institutions, and low levels of education.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Düben & Roland Hodler & Paul A. Raschky, 2026. "Regional Favoritism: New Data, Larger Sample, Same Pattern," CESifo Working Paper Series 12506, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12506
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Quoc-Anh Do & Kieu-Trang Nguyen & Anh N. Tran, 2017. "One Mandarin Benefits the Whole Clan: Hometown Favoritism in an Authoritarian Regime," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 9(4), pages 1-29, October.
    7. Widmer, Philine & Zurlinden, Noémie, 2022. "Ministers Engage in Favoritism Too," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    8. Posner,Daniel N., 2005. "Institutions and Ethnic Politics in Africa," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521833981, November.
    9. De Luca, Giacomo & Hodler, Roland & Raschky, Paul A. & Valsecchi, Michele, 2018. "Ethnic favoritism: An axiom of politics?," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 115-129.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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