Votes and regional economic growth: evidence from Turkey

Luca, Davide (2015) Votes and regional economic growth: evidence from Turkey. World Development, 78. pp. 477-495. ISSN 0305-750X

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Abstract

In countries where governments’ disproportionate power over the bureaucracy is coupled with a strong political polarization, can votes for the national incumbent party “buy” preferential policy treatment and faster regional economic growth? The article tests such question on Turkey’s 81 provinces over 2004–12. Results uncover a link between votes and faster regional growth, as well as a small influence of preferential allocations in explaining it. Yet, after addressing potential endogeneity, economic performance is almost entirely explained by standard drivers, primarily human capital endowment. Results suggest that the impact of electorally motivated distributive politics on regions’ economic performance is extremely limited.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://www.journals.elsevier.com/world-development
Additional Information:	© 2015 Elsevier Ltd.
Divisions:	Geography & Environment
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
JEL classification:	H - Public Economics > H7 - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations > H70 - General O - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth > O5 - Economywide Country Studies > O53 - Asia including Middle East R - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics > R1 - General Regional Economics > R11 - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, and Changes R - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics > R5 - Regional Government Analysis > R58 - Regional Development Policy
Date Deposited:	21 Mar 2016 14:56
Last Modified:	12 Dec 2024 00:59
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/65809

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