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Political Power and Mortality: Heterogeneous Effects of the U.S. Voting Rights Act

Author

Listed:
  • Atheendar Venkataramani
  • Rourke O'Brien
  • Elizabeth F. Bair
  • Christopher A. Lowenstein

Abstract

We study the health consequences of redistributing political power through the 1975 extension of the Voting Rights Act, which eliminated barriers to voting for previously disenfranchised nonwhite populations. The intervention led to broad declines in under-five mortality but sharply contrasting effects in other age groups: mortality fell among non-white children, younger adults, and older women, yet rose among whites and older non-white men. These differences cannot be reconciled by changes in population composition or material conditions. Instead, we present evidence suggesting psychosocial stress and retaliatory responses arising from perceived status threat as key mechanisms.

Suggested Citation

  • Atheendar Venkataramani & Rourke O'Brien & Elizabeth F. Bair & Christopher A. Lowenstein, 2025. "Political Power and Mortality: Heterogeneous Effects of the U.S. Voting Rights Act," NBER Working Papers 34421, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34421
    Note: AG EH PE POL
    as

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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
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • K38 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Human Rights Law; Gender Law; Animal Rights Law
    • P00 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - General - - - General

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