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What fuels conservative voting? Revisiting Costa Rica’s 2018 elections

Author

Listed:
  • Marco Hidalgo Ramírez

    (Universidad de Costa Rica)

Abstract

Despite being known as the most stable and oldest democracy in Latin America, Costa Rica had an unprecedented electoral episode in early 2018. In the light of same-sex marriage legal approval, an evangelical conservative party openly against it suddenly took off in popularity during the campaign. For months the country experienced a tense polarizing atmosphere. In this research, I implement an Instrumental Variable econometric approach using district-level data since 1973 to rigorously test whether lower education and poverty fueled conservative support. My findings suggest that historical economic insecurity did cause conservative support against human rights.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Hidalgo Ramírez, 2024. "What fuels conservative voting? Revisiting Costa Rica’s 2018 elections," Working Papers 202402, Universidad de Costa Rica, revised Feb 2024.
    • Handle: RePEc:fcr:wpaper:202402
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    File URL: https://economia.ucr.ac.cr/sites/default/files/2024-09/EE%20UCR%20SDT%2024-02.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    conservative voting; Costa Rica 2018 elections ; economic insecurity; Instrumental Variable econometric approach; district-level;
    All these keywords.

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