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Effects of Municipal Mergers on Voter Turnout

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  • Lapointe, Simon
  • Saarimaa, Tuukka
  • Tukiainen, Janne

Abstract

We study the effects of municipal mergers on voter turnout in a difference-in-differences framework, using data from a wave of municipal mergers in Finland in 2009. Analysing two pre-merger elections and three post-merger elections, spanning a total of 17 years, we find that municipal mergers decrease voter turnout by 4 percentage points in the long run in the relatively small municipalities compared to similar small municipalities that did not merge. As the average turnout rate prior to merging in this group was around 69%, this is a substantial effect. We also find that virtually nothing happens to turnout in the municipalities that were relatively large within their merger. Furthermore, mergers are associated with a decrease in voters’ political efficacy and turnout decreases more in those municipalities that experience larger decreases in efficacy.

Suggested Citation

  • Lapointe, Simon & Saarimaa, Tuukka & Tukiainen, Janne, 2018. "Effects of Municipal Mergers on Voter Turnout," Working Papers 106, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:fer:wpaper:106
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    Cited by:

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    3. Blesse, Sebastian & Heinemann, Friedrich, 2020. "Citizens’ trade-offs in state merger decisions: Evidence from a randomized survey experiment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 438-471.
    4. De Benedetto, Marco Alberto & De Paola, Maria, 2019. "Term limit extension and electoral participation. Evidence from a diff-in-discontinuities design at the local level in Italy," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 196-211.
    5. Edoardo Di Porto & Angela Parenti & Sonia Paty, 2024. "Integration and voter participation: Evidence from local governments in France," Post-Print hal-04756472, HAL.
    6. Mona Förtsch & Felix Rösel, 2020. "Gebietsreformen reduzieren das Heimatgefühl," ifo Dresden berichtet, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 27(01), pages 03-05, February.
    7. Bangum, Christine T. & Geys, Benny & Sørensen, Rune J., 2025. "Pro-social preferences and the paradox of voting," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    8. Edoardo Di Porto & Angela Parenti & Sonia Paty, 2025. "The political cost of integration: A natural experiment on local governments," Working Papers hal-04926788, HAL.
    9. Dagmara Kociuba & Waldemar Kociuba, 2023. "Variants of Boundary Changes—A Case Study of Poland," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-17, June.

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    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • H70 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - General

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