Why Do High Income Families Have Higher Voter Turnout?

Posted: 28 Feb 2006 Last revised: 13 Oct 2013

See all articles by Yosef Bonaparte

Yosef Bonaparte

University of Colorado at Denver - Department of Finance

Date Written: March 29, 2007

Abstract

This paper addresses two puzzles about voter turnout. The first is that high income families are more likely to vote, even after controlling for age and education. The second is the large number of registered voters that do not vote (again, a more pronounced phenomenon among low income citizens). Using the warm glow theory to rationalize voting and allowing hyperbolic discounting, the paper explains the variation of registration and voter turnout across families with different income levels. We also discuss the model's implications for policies aimed at increasing turnout, including compulsory voting and lottery approaches.

Keywords: warm glow, hyperbolic, sample selection, registration, and voter turnout

JEL Classification: D71, D72

Suggested Citation

Bonaparte, Yosef, Why Do High Income Families Have Higher Voter Turnout? (March 29, 2007). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=882565

Yosef Bonaparte (Contact Author)

University of Colorado at Denver - Department of Finance ( email )

United States