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Cash Transfers and Voter Turnout

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander James

    (Department of Economics, University of Alaska Anchorage)

  • Nathaly Rivera

    (Department of Economics, University of Chile)

  • Brock Smith

    (Agricultural Economics and Economics, Montana State University)

Abstract

We estimate the effect of cash transfers on voter turnout, leveraging a large-scale natural experiment, the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) program, which provides residents with a check of varying size one month before election day. We find that transfers cause people to vote, especially in gubernatorial elections in which a 10% increase in cash ($180) causes a 1.4 percentage point increase in turnout. Effects are concentrated among racial minorities, theÊyoung, and poor. There is little evidence that transfers reduce logistical costs of voting, but rather operate by reducing voter apathy among the low-income electorate.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander James & Nathaly Rivera & Brock Smith, 2022. "Cash Transfers and Voter Turnout," Working Papers 2022-01, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ala:wpaper:2022-01
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Voter Turnout; Civic Engagement; Cash Transfers; Natural-Field Experiment; Democratic Institutions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • H70 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - General
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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