The inequality of electoral participation in Europe and America and the politically integrative functions of the welfare state

Ungleichheit bei der Wahlbeteiligung in Europa und Amerika und die Funktion des Wohlfahrtsstaats bei der politischen Integration

[working paper]

Alber, Jens; Kohler, Ulrich

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Corporate Editor	Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung gGmbH
Abstract	"Electoral turnout is shown to be higher and less socially skewed in member states of the enlarged European Union than in the United States. The differences in the levels of turnout can partly be related to differences in election procedures, but since the procedural rules provide similar incentives or disincentives to all social groups they cannot explain the much higher inequality of electoral participation in America. There is some evidence to sustain the notion that the higher inclusiveness of the West European welfare state fosters political integration and the equality of electoral participation. In line with this notion differences between Europe and America diminish considerably when the analysis is confined to the pensioner generation whose integration into welfare state schemes is largely similar on both sides of the Atlantic." (author's abstract)
Keywords	social inequality; voter turnout; voting behavior; political integration; social integration; exclusion; welfare state; social factors; demographic factors; EU; Europe; United States of America; international comparison; political participation
Classification	Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Method	descriptive study
Document language	English
Publication Year	2008
City	Berlin
Page/Pages	32 p.
Series	Discussion Papers / Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung, Forschungsschwerpunkt Bildung, Arbeit und Lebenschancen, Abteilung Ungleichheit und soziale Integration, 2008-202
Licence	Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications
data provider	This metadata entry was indexed by the Special Subject Collection Social Sciences, USB Cologne

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