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Welfare state size and voter turnout - A longitudinal study of the relationship between voter turnout and welfare expenditure within and between OECD member countries 1986-2019

Abrahamsson, Linus LU (2024) NEKH04 20241
Department of Economics
Abstract
Past research on the determinants of voter turnout have focused on the socioeconomic conditions of electorates, institutional environments and electoral systems of countries. A neglected area of research has been the relationship between voter turnout and welfare expenditure. This paper examines the relationship between voter turnout and welfare expenditure within and between 31
OECD member countries over the years 1986-2019. Using a rational voter theoretical framework three relationships are assessed: (a) whether the economic involvement of the state in the economy
affects voter turnout, (b) whether welfare expenditure, separate from education, affects turnout, (c) whether rising inequality affects turnout. Using different econometric... (More)
Past research on the determinants of voter turnout have focused on the socioeconomic conditions of electorates, institutional environments and electoral systems of countries. A neglected area of research has been the relationship between voter turnout and welfare expenditure. This paper examines the relationship between voter turnout and welfare expenditure within and between 31
OECD member countries over the years 1986-2019. Using a rational voter theoretical framework three relationships are assessed: (a) whether the economic involvement of the state in the economy
affects voter turnout, (b) whether welfare expenditure, separate from education, affects turnout, (c) whether rising inequality affects turnout. Using different econometric models, all three
relationships are assessed between 1986-2019 and then separately in two intervals of 1986-2000 and 2000-2019. Within countries a negative relationship is found relating to (a) and (b) whereas a
positive, statistically insignificant, effect is found between countries over the same time period. No significant relationship is found between inequality (c) and voter turnout within countries, but a significant negative relationship is found between countries. The early (1986-2000) and late
(2000-2019) time periods differ, showing that the relationships (a, b and c) have varied over time. The main conclusion is that the negative relationship between voter turnout and welfare within
countries appeared primarily after the year 2000 and that across countries higher welfare spending has been associated with on average higher voter turnout. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Abrahamsson, Linus LU
supervisor
organization
course
NEKH04 20241
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
voter turnout, rational voter theory, welfare, inequality, OECD
language
English
id
9164958
date added to LUP
2024-09-24 11:25:43
date last changed
2024-09-24 11:25:43
@misc{9164958,
  abstract     = {{Past research on the determinants of voter turnout have focused on the socioeconomic conditions of electorates, institutional environments and electoral systems of countries. A neglected area of research has been the relationship between voter turnout and welfare expenditure. This paper examines the relationship between voter turnout and welfare expenditure within and between 31
OECD member countries over the years 1986-2019. Using a rational voter theoretical framework three relationships are assessed: (a) whether the economic involvement of the state in the economy
affects voter turnout, (b) whether welfare expenditure, separate from education, affects turnout, (c) whether rising inequality affects turnout. Using different econometric models, all three
relationships are assessed between 1986-2019 and then separately in two intervals of 1986-2000 and 2000-2019. Within countries a negative relationship is found relating to (a) and (b) whereas a
positive, statistically insignificant, effect is found between countries over the same time period. No significant relationship is found between inequality (c) and voter turnout within countries, but a significant negative relationship is found between countries. The early (1986-2000) and late
(2000-2019) time periods differ, showing that the relationships (a, b and c) have varied over time. The main conclusion is that the negative relationship between voter turnout and welfare within
countries appeared primarily after the year 2000 and that across countries higher welfare spending has been associated with on average higher voter turnout.}},
  author       = {{Abrahamsson, Linus}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Welfare state size and voter turnout - A longitudinal study of the relationship between voter turnout and welfare expenditure within and between OECD member countries 1986-2019}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}