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Should voting be mandatory? The effect of compulsory voting rules on candidates’ political platforms

Author

Listed:
  • Mauricio Bugarin

    (University of Brasilia)

  • Adriana Portugal

    (Tribunal de Contas do Distrito Federal)

Abstract

This article analyzes the effect of political participation in the electoral process on parties’ announced platforms in a model of electoral competition. The model highlights the existence of a class bias that favors groups of voters with higher turnout. There exists empirical evidence that wealthier economic classes present higher levels of political participation. In that situation, the model suggests that compulsory voting may be a useful mechanism to reduce the bias in favor of the higher-turnout class.

Suggested Citation

  • Mauricio Bugarin & Adriana Portugal, 2015. "Should voting be mandatory? The effect of compulsory voting rules on candidates’ political platforms," Journal of Applied Economics, Universidad del CEMA, vol. 18, pages 1-20, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:cem:jaecon:v:18:y:2015:n:1:p:1-20
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    File URL: https://ucema.edu.ar/publicaciones/download/volume18/Bugarin.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Rodrigo Schneider & Diloá Athias & Mauricio Bugarin, 2019. "Does enfranchisement affect fiscal policy? Theory and empirical evidence on Brazil," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 389-412, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    electoral competition; asymmetric voter turnout; higher-turnout class bias; compulsory voting; voluntary voting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior

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