Economic outcomes and the decision to vote
Subtitle: the effect of randomized school admissions on voter participation
By: Justine S. Hastings ... [et al.].
Contributors: Hastings, Justine S.; National Bureau of Economic Research.
Series: NBER working paper series ;; working paper 11794; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research : Online) ;; working paper no. 11794.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2005
Place of publication: Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Format: Electronic resource
Subjects: Voting -- Economic aspects -- North Carolina -- Charlotte.; School choice -- North Carolina -- Charlotte.
Description: "We provide empirical evidence on the determinants of voter turnout using the random assignment of economic outcomes to potential voters generated by a school choice lottery.  This is the first paper to use random assignment of real outcomes resulting from a policy experiment to understand the factors that influence voter turnout.  We show that school lottery losers are significantly more likely to vote in the ensuing school board election than lottery winners.  The asymmetric effect increases with income and past election participation.  The results support a model of 'expressive' voting where negative economic outcomes increase the probability of voting.  Such results may account for loss minimizing behavior by public officials, particularly for voters in middle and higher income neighborhoods"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Notes: Also available in print.
Includes bibliographical references.
Title from PDF file as viewed on 12/13/2005.
System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.