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Exit, Voice and Political Change: Evidence from Swedish Mass Migration to the United States

Author

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  • Karadja, Mounir

    (Department of Economics)

  • Prawitz, Erik

    (Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN))

Abstract

We study the political effects of mass emigration to the United States in the 19th century using data from Sweden. To instrument for total emigration over several decades, we exploit severe local frost shocks that sparked an initial wave of emigration, interacted with within-country travel costs. Our estimates show that emigration substantially increased the local demand for political change, as measured by labor movement membership, strike participation and voting. Emigration also led to de facto political change, increasing welfare expenditures as well as the likelihood of adopting more inclusive political institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Karadja, Mounir & Prawitz, Erik, 2018. "Exit, Voice and Political Change: Evidence from Swedish Mass Migration to the United States," Working Paper Series 1237, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:iuiwop:1237
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    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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