Implications of the Economy on Voter Turnout.

Implications of the Economy on Voter Turnout.

Ojeda, Christopher. “The Two Income‐Participation Gaps.” American Journal of Political Science 62, no. 4 (2018): 813-829.

The research attempts to explain why the “The Two Income‐Participation Gaps” gap occurs by considering income differences during two phases of life. The study finds data from childhood economic status and adulthood income levels. The researcher reviews six different studies, including full descriptions and relevance to the study. The final results show that the troubling aspects of the connection between economic status and participation because they show that poor children’s capabilities for political participation are diminished for various reasons. The researchers provide a conclusive argument. However, it is difficult to understand why the gap exists.

The researchers commit some mistakes like generalizing the participants into two groups also diminishes the fact that different life experiences during childhood influence adulthood behaviours. Thus despite proving the hypothesis, the researcher does not adequately explain why the gap occurs. Therefore leaving a gap for future researchers to investigate why the rich behave in a certain way and why the less fortunate act as they do.  The research has a compelling argument and provides the necessary evidence to support his claims towards the contentious issue. The case establishes the connection between the economy and elections across different social stratification levels.

The research is relevant to my study because it helps in establishing the strengths of great scientific works. The researcher makes finding scientific by encouraging readers to replicate the research. One of the hallmarks of a considerable scientific investigation is it facilitates duplication. The researcher provides all the necessary undertaking that facilitate similar analysis. Thus my research should adhere to this rule to make it scientific and credible.

Pacek, Alexander C., and Benjamin Radcliff. “Economic Voting and the welfare state: A cross-national analysis.” The journal of Politics 57, no. 1 (1995): 44-61.

The authors examine the question of economic voting in the major industrial democracies. The researchers utilized pooled time-series data for 17 nations from 1960 to 1987. The main argument presented by the author is that the magnitude and nature of the relationship between economic situations and voting depends on the welfare state development. The researchers found out that for countries with low to moderate levels of welfare spending, the economy has more influence on the voters and their participation in the election. From the research, it is welfare state plays a significant role in determining the extent to which citizens collectively reward and punish incumbent governments in response to economic performance.

The authors present a compelling argument and use suitable research interventions to establish their cases. The authors develop the connection between the economy and election by considering welfare on a national level. The researchers’ expectation was met in countries where the economy was strong.  According to the researchers, “The economic coefficient is positive, while the interaction term is negative, implying that the economic effect decreases as welfare spending increases. The initial results for a weak economy (details not shown) produced coefficients which, though of the correct sign, are insignificant”. The statement establishes the relationship between economics and elections.

The researcher’s approach to the research problem provides an evaluation mechanism for my research.  By comparing the results between countries following elections, it is easy to compare voter turnout and economic performance. Getting countries annual financial performance is smooth. After acquiring the data, we can consider the economic performance through one election through to the next. The researchers’ approach provides an alternative method of data collection to my concerns over the topic. The research presented is relevant to my research in many ways other than providing an alternative data collection method. However, for my research, I would avoid making a comparison between countries.

Radcliff, Benjamin. “The welfare state, turnout, and the economy: A comparative analysis.” American Political Science Review 86, no. 2 (1992): 444-454.

The researcher examines the influence of the economy on voter turnout by analyzing national elections in 29 countries. The researcher uses time-series data to replicate the initial findings by a case study of American presidential elections from 1896. The researcher considers three hypotheses; the first is that economic hardships encourage people to participate in political decisions as a means to address various political grievances. The second is that a sour economy discourages citizen’s participation in the political process.  The third is the possibility of null of no effect, which suggests that declines in financial power neither politicize nor alienate voters. To test the hypothesis, the researcher suggests that the relationship between economic conditions are linear. The turnout becomes the dependent variable, and the independent variable is the election year proposition change in real per capita national income.

The author presents a compelling case of why voter turnout depends on the economy.  However, when considering the research, it is essential to note the historical context in which the researcher presents his arguments. The economy’s performance in 1992 significantly differs from the economy of today. Therefore before considering the paper as a guide to judging voters’ behaviour, we should first compare the performance of the two economic periods. However, the general presentation of the work by the researcher is excellent. The author presents ten data collection, analysis and findings in a way that is easy to comprehend.

The research is useful to my research because it tests similar hypotheses to my inquiry. The authors work significantly in advancing my research over the subject of voter turnout and the economy. The author clearly shows that a sour economy affects voter participation. However, aside from establishing the fact, the research becomes shallow. Therefore there is an exciting gap that my research can exploit, that is explaining why a sour economy affects voter turnout.

Stevens, Daniel. “Mobilization, demobilization and the economy in American elections.” British Journal of Political Science 37, no. 1 (2007): 165-186.

The article’s author seeks to assess the influence of the economy on the proposed costs and benefits of voting through a comprehensive analysis of its role in mobilizing and demobilizing voters in American presidential elections from 1956 to 2000. The researcher questions the role of economics and voter turnout and voter decisions. The hypothesis tested is the state of the economy. In combination with that partisan support of voters can influence voter turnout, party affiliations change voters economic priorities and their participation in elections, and primary mediating factors in differential rates of abstention is the presence of the economy on perceptions towards a referendum. The researcher attempts to explain voter participation in economics terms by evaluating how different income classes vote.

The final theory and explanation presented by the author fail to explain the author’s arguments definitively. There is still room to further research in the field. The title suggests that the researcher will link mobilization by parties and the economy to explain voter turnout. However, the study does not give a definitive relationship between the significant drivers. The research seems to lack a central theme tow workaround. The author’s data collection method is questionable. The approach taken is entirely void of voter sentiments, an aspect that is crucial when approaching the question. The author should have included first-hand inputs from voters when compiling the final data.

The research is useful as it provides as relevant to my inquiry. By determining voter turnout concerning party affiliation and mobilization, researchers can understand the impacts of the economy. As research, the research gives an incentive to compare each parties economic policies and what their implementation means for the economy in future. The study also provides potential avenues of testing voter behaviour based on candidates economic policies.