Homophily in voting behavior: Evidence from preferential voting

J 2023

Homophily in voting behavior: Evidence from preferential voting

COUFALOVÁ, Lucie, Štěpán MIKULA and Michal ŠEVČÍK

Basic information

Original name

Homophily in voting behavior: Evidence from preferential voting

Authors

COUFALOVÁ, Lucie (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Štěpán MIKULA (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Michal ŠEVČÍK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Kyklos, Wiley, 2023, 0023-5962

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

50202 Applied Economics, Econometrics

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.900 in 2022

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14560/23:00134060

Organization unit

Faculty of Economics and Administration

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/kykl.12328

UT WoS

000928880000001

Keywords in English

voting behavior; homophily; preferential voting; Czech parliamentary elections

Abstract

V originále

Homophily—the preference for people similar in their characteristics—is a strong determinant of many types of human relationships. It affects, for example, whom we marry and potentially also whom we vote for. We use data on preferential voting from eight (1996–2021) Czech parliamentary elections matched with census and administrative data to identify the effect of homophily on voting behavior. The Czech system of preferential voting is well suited to an analysis of homophilic preferences, as it enables us to filter out preferences for political parties and focus solely on candidates' individual background characteristics. We identify the effect of homophily on a sample of 6,844,538 observations from small municipalities that are not likely to be affected by potential electoral list optimization. We find that a 1 % increase in the share of a municipality's population whose education level or age are the same as the candidate's increases the number of preferential votes the given candidate receives by 0.5% or 0.2% respectively. We also find evidence for strong geographical homophily as living in the municipality substantially increases the number of preferential votes a candidate receives.

Links

GA20-23131S, research and development project

Name: Transformace českých podniků: socialistické podniky v tržní ekonomice

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

GF20-18033L, research and development project

Name: Efekty (dez)integrací na rakousko-české hranici

Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Partner Agency (Austria)

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Citovat

COUFALOVÁ, Lucie, Štěpán MIKULA and Michal ŠEVČÍK. Homophily in voting behavior: Evidence from preferential voting. Kyklos. Wiley, 2023, vol. 76, No 2, p. 281-300. ISSN 0023-5962. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/kykl.12328.

@article{2253643,
   author = {Coufalová, Lucie and Mikula, Štěpán and Ševčík, Michal},
   article_number = {2},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/kykl.12328},
   keywords = {voting behavior; homophily; preferential voting; Czech parliamentary elections},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0023-5962},
   journal = {Kyklos},
   title = {Homophily in voting behavior: Evidence from preferential voting},
   url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/kykl.12328},
   volume = {76},
   year = {2023}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2253643
AU  - Coufalová, Lucie - Mikula, Štěpán - Ševčík, Michal
PY  - 2023
TI  - Homophily in voting behavior: Evidence from preferential voting
JF  - Kyklos
VL  - 76
IS  - 2
SP  - 281-300
EP  - 281-300
PB  - Wiley
SN  - 00235962
KW  - voting behavior
KW  - homophily
KW  - preferential voting
KW  - Czech parliamentary elections
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/kykl.12328
N2  - Homophily—the preference for people similar in their characteristics—is a strong determinant of many types of human relationships. It affects, for example, whom we marry and potentially also whom we vote for. We use data on preferential voting from eight (1996–2021) Czech parliamentary elections matched with census and administrative data to identify the effect of homophily on voting behavior. The Czech system of preferential voting is well suited to an analysis of homophilic preferences, as it enables us to filter out preferences for political parties and focus solely on candidates' individual background characteristics. We identify the effect of homophily on a sample of 6,844,538 observations from small municipalities that are not likely to be affected by potential electoral list optimization. We find that a 1 % increase in the share of a municipality's population whose education level or age are the same as the candidate's increases the number of preferential votes the given candidate receives by 0.5% or 0.2% respectively. We also find evidence for strong geographical homophily as living in the municipality substantially increases the number of preferential votes a candidate receives.
ER  -

COUFALOVÁ, Lucie, Štěpán MIKULA and Michal ŠEVČÍK. Homophily in voting behavior: Evidence from preferential voting. \textit{Kyklos}. Wiley, 2023, vol.~76, No~2, p.~281-300. ISSN~0023-5962. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/kykl.12328.

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