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Can compulsory voting reduce information acquisition?

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  • Rohde, Linnéa Marie

Abstract

An election with full turnout is supposed to achieve an outcome that perfectly reflects the majority's preference. This result requires voters to be perfectly informed about their preferences and to vote accordingly. I show that incentivizing participation with an abstention fine does not necessarily incentivize information acquisition. While a small abstention fine always increases information acquisition compared to Voluntary Voting, a high abstention fine that achieves full turnout increases information acquisition only if voting costs are high. If voting costs are low, the opposite is true: Less individuals acquire information under Compulsory Voting with full turnout than under Voluntary Voting.

Suggested Citation

  • Rohde, Linnéa Marie, 2024. "Can compulsory voting reduce information acquisition?," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 305-337.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:gamebe:v:147:y:2024:i:c:p:305-337
    DOI: 10.1016/j.geb.2024.08.005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Costly voting; Costly information acquisition; Mandatory voting; Compulsory voting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C70 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - General
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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