Class, Social Mobility, and Voting: Evidence from Historical Voting Records

Arbeitspapier

We explore the connection between social class, social mobility, and voting behavior in nineteenth-century England. To avoid pitfalls associated with survey or aggregate data on voting behavior, we use administrative longitudinal records preceding secret ballot on voters’ choices and occupation. These data reveal that the landed gentry, farm workers, non-skilled workers and white-collar workers voted, on average, more for the Conservatives, and petty bourgeoisie and skilled workers for the Liberals. The changes in voting behavior within individuals due to social mobility are immediate and mainly consistent with the same cleavage. Our interpretation is that voting was influenced by economic incentives.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Discussion paper ; No. 142

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior ; Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: Europe: Pre-1913 ; Regional and Urban History: Europe: Pre-1913
• Subject: Class-based voting ; economic voting ; social mobility ; voting behavior ; poll books

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Dewan, Torun ; Kam, Christopher ; Meriläinen, Jaakko ; Tukiainen, Janne
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Aboa Centre for Economics (ACE)
• (where): Turku
• (when): 2021

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/233357
• Last update: 11.04.0003, 12:07 PM CET