David and Goliath in the poll booth

Group Size, Political Power and Voter Turnout

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6302928
AutoresPeter Bönisch (Zalando SE, Berlin, Germany), Benny Geys (0000-0003-4524-1820, Department of Economics, Norwegian Business School BI, Oslo, Norway, autor de correspondencia), Claus Michelsen (0000-0001-6751-3271, Department of Forecasting and Economic Policy, German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), Berlin, Germany)
Año2019
Volumen45
Número5
Páginas724-747
Fecha de publicación2019-09-03
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaLocal Government Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0300-3930 • E-ISSN: 1743-9388
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03003930.2018.1510390
OpenAlexW3121852696
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas6
Referencias citadas46

This article analyses how the presence of a dominant group of voters within the electorate affects voter turnout. Theoretically, we argue that its absolute size affects turnout via increased free-riding incentives and reduced social pressure to vote within a larger dominant group. Its relative size compared to other groups within the electorate influences turnout through instrumental and expressive responses – in both the dominant and dominated groups – to the degree of electoral competition between groups. Empirical evidence from a large cross section of German municipalities is in line with these theoretical predictions. The observed effects should be taken into account when redesigning electoral jurisdictions through, for instance, municipal mergers or gerrymandering

Physics · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Power (physics · Sociology · Turnout · Voter turnout · Voting · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Migration, Refugees, and Integration · Political Conflict and Governance