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School performance and retrospective voting: Evidence from local elections in Denmark

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  • Maaser, Nicola
  • Štrobl, Martin

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate whether voters hold local politicians accountable for the performance of local schools. We examine this effect for the 2013 and 2017 Danish local elections using register data and polling station-level voting records. We find robust evidence of retrospective voting from pooled and fixed effects estimations. Exploiting the micro-level character of our data, we present evidence that higher-income citizens are more sensitive to changes in school performance, while other demographic and political characteristics do not appear to have mattered.

Suggested Citation

  • Maaser, Nicola & Štrobl, Martin, 2024. "School performance and retrospective voting: Evidence from local elections in Denmark," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:poleco:v:84:y:2024:i:c:s0176268023000708
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2023.102426
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Vladimir Kogan & Stéphane Lavertu & Zachary Peskowitz, 2016. "Performance Federalism and Local Democracy: Theory and Evidence from School Tax Referenda," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 60(2), pages 418-435, April.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Retrospective voting; School performance; Local elections; Local government;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • H73 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Interjurisdictional Differentials and Their Effects

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