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Integration and voter participation: Evidence from local governments in France

Author

Listed:
  • Edoardo Di Porto

    (University of Naples Federico II = Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II)

  • Angela Parenti

    (University of Pisa - Università di Pisa)

  • Sonia Paty

    (GATE Lyon Saint-Étienne - Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon - Saint-Etienne - UL2 - Université Lumière - Lyon 2 - UJM - Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne - EM - EMLyon Business School - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UL2 - Université Lumière - Lyon 2)

Abstract

We study the causal impact of integration on electoral participation, based on the French experience of intermunicipal cooperation (2001-2018) in which integrated municipalities transfer certain responsibilities and fiscal revenues from the lower municipal level to the higher intermunicipal level. Using a discontinuity design analysis with an exogenous population-based rule, we find that voter turnout for municipal elections decreases significantly within newly highly integrated communities. A supplementary event study analysis shows that these municipalities face a significant decrease in fiscal revenues for about two years after the decision to cooperate. These results suggest that when less is at stake, in terms of responsibilities and fiscal revenues in highly integrated municipalities, citizens feel less involved and electoral participation decreases. Furthermore, exploiting a 2014 electoral reform, this loss in participation is found to be long-lasting. Keywords: Decentralizatio

Suggested Citation

  • Edoardo Di Porto & Angela Parenti & Sonia Paty, 2024. "Integration and voter participation: Evidence from local governments in France," Post-Print hal-04756472, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04756472
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Decentralization; integration; electoral participation; fiscal revenues; cooperation; quasi- natural experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H3 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents
    • H7 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations

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