Love Thy (Elected) Neighbor? Residential Segregation, Political Representation, and Local Public Goods

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Volume Title

A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä

Date

2023-07

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Language

en

Pages

16
860-875

Series

Journal of Politics, Volume 85, issue 3

Abstract

We study geographic political representation and geographic distribution of local public goods within local jurisdictions with at-large proportional representation elections. We use detailed geo-coded data on politicians, the electorate, and elementary schools. Descriptive analysis reveals that poorer neighborhoods are underrepresented and that local politicians have a strong support base in their home neighborhoods. Based on randomized election outcomes due to personal vote count ties, geographic representation has a causal effect on school closures. The probability of closure is cut in half when a candidate living close to the school is randomly elected. High-income residents react to closures by moving away from the neighborhood, thus reinforcing segregation.

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Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Southern Political Science Association. All rights reserved.

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Citation

Harjunen, O, Saarimaa, T & Tukiainen, J 2023, ' Love Thy (Elected) Neighbor? Residential Segregation, Political Representation, and Local Public Goods ', Journal of Politics, vol. 85, no. 3, pp. 860-875 . https://doi.org/10.1086/723983