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Do gifts buy votes?: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa

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  • Jenny Guardado
  • Leonard Wantchekon

Abstract

Vote-buying—or the pre-electoral distribution of private goods in exchange for support at the ballot box—is often blamed for the poor economic performance of many sub-Saharan countries. For instance, vote-buying may undermine accountability and the implementation of sound development policies by pressuring individuals to vote against their own interests. Yet, these effects depend on vote-buying leading to electoral outcomes that would not have occurred otherwise.

Suggested Citation

  • Jenny Guardado & Leonard Wantchekon, 2021. "Do gifts buy votes?: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-129, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2021-129
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/Publications/Working-paper/PDF/wp2021-129-do-gifts-buy-votes-evidence-sub-Saharan-Africa.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jordan Gans‐Morse & Sebastián Mazzuca & Simeon Nichter, 2014. "Varieties of Clientelism: Machine Politics during Elections," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 58(2), pages 415-432, April.
    2. Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson & Rafael J. Santos, 2013. "The Monopoly Of Violence: Evidence From Colombia," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 11, pages 5-44, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anand Murugesan & Jean-Robert Tyran, 2023. "The Puzzling Practice of Paying “Cash for Votes”," CESifo Working Paper Series 10504, CESifo.

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    Keywords

    Elections; vote-buying; Sub-Saharan Africa;
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