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Corrupted Votes and Rule Compliance

Author

Listed:
  • Arno Apffelstaedt

    (University of Cologne and ECONtribute)

  • Jana Freundt

    (University of Fribourg, Department of Economics and University of Pennsylvania, School of Arts and Sciences)

Abstract

Allegations of voter fraud accompany many real-world elections. How does electoral malpractice affect the acceptance of elected institutions? Using an online experiment in which people distribute income according to majority-elected rules, we show that those who experience vote buying or voter disenfranchisement during the election are subsequently less willing to comply with the rule. On average, the detrimental impact of electoral malpractice on compliance is of the same magnitude as removing the election altogether and imposing a rule exogenously. Our experiment shows how corrupting democratic processes can impact economic behavior and sheds light on the behavioral mechanisms underlying "rule legitimacy".

Suggested Citation

  • Arno Apffelstaedt & Jana Freundt, 2022. "Corrupted Votes and Rule Compliance," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 137, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:ajk:ajkdps:137
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    Cited by:

    1. Apffelstaedt, Arno & Freundt, Jana & Oslislo, Christoph, 2022. "Social norms and elections: How elected rules can make behavior (in)appropriate," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 148-177.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    rule compliance; endogenous institutions; corruption; procedural fairness; legitimacy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior

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