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Protest Matters: The Effects of Protests on Economic Redistribution

Author

Listed:
  • Belinda Archibong
  • Chinemelu Okafor
  • Evans S. Osabuohien
  • Tom Moerenhout

Abstract

Can citizen-led protests lead to meaningful economic redistribution and nudge governments to increase redistributive fiscal transfers? We study the effects of protests on fiscal redistribution using evidence from Nigeria. We digitized twenty-six years of public finance data from 1988 to 2016 to examine the effects of protests on intergovernmental transfers. We find that protests increase transfers to protesting regions, but only in areas that are politically aligned with disbursing governments. Evidence from the large-scale 2012 Occupy Nigeria protests confirms these results. Protesters also face increased police violence, particularly in non-aligned regions. The results show that protests can influence fiscal redistribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Belinda Archibong & Chinemelu Okafor & Evans S. Osabuohien & Tom Moerenhout, 2026. "Protest Matters: The Effects of Protests on Economic Redistribution," NBER Working Papers 34787, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34787
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D7 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making
    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H7 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations
    • N47 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Africa; Oceania
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth

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