Voter Behavior in Economics Perspective

In this work, voter behaviour is analyzed from an economist's point of view with econometric tools applied in the analyses. The book contains empirical analyses linking demographic variables to voter turnout and party choice using cross-section data from the Netherlands. Attention is focused on whether turnout and party choice decisions are taken sequentially or simultaneously by voters. An empirical test supports the former. Using these results, behavioural models of party choice and voter turnout are developed and existing econometric analyses of voting behaviour are reinforced. In both models, a group perspective is used, in line with current usage of this perspective in economic and political science. Empirical applications of the party choice model allow for an estimation of relative preferences for public goods, using the revealed preference mechanism provided by voting intention. An alternative method for detecting these preferences, a new survey design, is also discussed. In the turnout model, the role of "civic duty" as a factor in group behaviour is examined.