Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP9278
Authors: Gerard Padro-i-Miquel; Nancy Qian; Yang Yao
Abstract: This study examines how the economic effects of elections in rural China depend on voter heterogeneity, for which we proxy with religious fractionalization. We first document religious composition and the introduction of village-level elections for a nearly nationally representative sample of over two hundred villages. Then, we examine the interaction effect of heterogeneity and the introduction of elections on village-government provision of public goods. The interaction effect is negative. We interpret this as evidence that voter heterogeneity constrains the potential benefits of elections for public goods provision.
Keywords: democracy; fractionalization; preconditions; religion; voter heterogeneity
JEL Codes: O1; P1
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Introduction of elections (K16) | Public goods expenditure (H49) |
| Introduction of elections + Religious fragmentation (K16) | Public goods expenditure (H49) |
| Religious fragmentation (Z12) | Public goods expenditure (H49) |
| Voter heterogeneity (D72) | Public goods expenditure (H49) |
| Elections + Religious fragmentation (D79) | Effectiveness of democratic reforms (D72) |