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Voting and Political Participation in the Aftermath of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

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  • Hani Mansour
  • Daniel I. Rees
  • James M. Reeves

Abstract

This is the first study to examine the effect of experiencing a widespread, deadly epidemic on voting behavior. Using data on elections to the U.S House of Representatives and leveraging cross-district variation in HIV/AIDS mortality during the period 1983-1987, we document the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on votes received by Democratic and Republican candidates. Beginning with the 1994 elections, there is a strong, positive association between HIV/AIDS mortality and the vote share received by Democratic candidates. Congressional districts that bore the brunt of the HIV/AIDS epidemic also saw substantial increases in Democratic voter turnout and contributions made to Democratic candidates.

Suggested Citation

  • Hani Mansour & Daniel I. Rees & James M. Reeves, 2020. "Voting and Political Participation in the Aftermath of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic," NBER Working Papers 27504, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:27504
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    Cited by:

    1. Fernandez-Navia, Tania & Polo-Muro, Eduardo & Tercero-Lucas, David, 2021. "Too afraid to vote? The effects of COVID-19 on voting behaviour," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    2. Emilio Depetris-Chauvin & Felipe González, 2023. "The Political Consequences of Vaccines: Quasi-experimental Evidence from Eligibility Rules," Documentos de Trabajo 572, Instituto de Economia. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile..
    3. Helios Herrera & Maximilian Konradt & Guillermo Ordonez & Christoph Trebesch, 2020. "Corona Politics:The cost of mismanaging pandemics," PIER Working Paper Archive 20-033, Penn Institute for Economic Research, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania.
    4. , 2023. "The Political Consequences of Vaccines: Quasi-experimental Evidence from Eligibility Rules," Working Papers 953, Queen Mary University of London, School of Economics and Finance.
    5. Boldrini, Michela & Conzo, Pierluigi & Fiore, Simona & Zotti, Roberto, 2023. "Blaming migrants doesn’t pay: the political effects of the Ebola epidemic in Italy," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 202320, University of Turin.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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