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Studying More to Vote Less: Education and Voter Turnout in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Harka, Elona

    (University of Padova)

  • Rocco, Lorenzo

    (University of Padova)

Abstract
We use Italian municipality data on education and voter participation in national elections to estimate the effect of schooling on voter turnout. By adopting a fixed effect instrumental variable identification strategy, we find that education reduces voter turnout, more so in municipalities with higher income, lower social capital, which experienced political misconduct in the past and have low institutional quality. Analysis with individual data confirms these results. We discuss several mechanisms to rationalize our findings ranging from the opportunity cost of time to disaffection and civic protest.

Suggested Citation

  • Harka, Elona & Rocco, Lorenzo, 2019. "Studying More to Vote Less: Education and Voter Turnout in Italy," IZA Discussion Papers 12816, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12816
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    Cited by:

    1. Giesing, Yvonne & Schikora, Felicitas, 2023. "Emigrants’ missing votes," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Italy; education; voter turnout; protest;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior

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