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Infrastructure expansion, tourism and electoral outcomes

Mehic, Adrian LU (2026) In Economica 93(371). p.757-776
Abstract
This paper examines the electoral impact of economic growth through increased foreign tourism using data from Croatia. To identify causal effects, the paper applies an instrumental variable strategy, which uses variation in the ruggedness of the local terrain to estimate the network of least-cost paths. The results suggest that an increase in foreign tourism reduces nationalist voting, and increases the centre-left vote share. In addition, I find that the increase in tourism rates led to population and employment growth, demographic shifts within municipalities, and positive spillovers on manufacturing, providing several potential mechanisms behind the voting results.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Economica
volume
93
issue
371
pages
757 - 776
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:105030839891
ISSN
1468-0335
DOI
10.1111/ecca.70035
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
43763e15-f16f-4ccb-bb2d-f71917870c94
date added to LUP
2026-02-23 13:00:36
date last changed
2026-06-02 14:41:14
@article{43763e15-f16f-4ccb-bb2d-f71917870c94,
  abstract     = {{This paper examines the electoral impact of economic growth through increased foreign tourism using data from Croatia. To identify causal effects, the paper applies an instrumental variable strategy, which uses variation in the ruggedness of the local terrain to estimate the network of least-cost paths. The results suggest that an increase in foreign tourism reduces nationalist voting, and increases the centre-left vote share. In addition, I find that the increase in tourism rates led to population and employment growth, demographic shifts within municipalities, and positive spillovers on manufacturing, providing several potential mechanisms behind the voting results.}},
  author       = {{Mehic, Adrian}},
  issn         = {{1468-0335}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{371}},
  pages        = {{757--776}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Economica}},
  title        = {{Infrastructure expansion, tourism and electoral outcomes}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ecca.70035}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/ecca.70035}},
  volume       = {{93}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}