Research Insights: Are Young Latin American Voters Politically Engaged?

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Peer Reviewed icon Peer Reviewed
Date issued
Aug 2021
Subject
Elections;
Voting Behavior;
Political Participation
JEL code
D12 - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis;
D72 - Political Processes: Rent-Seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior;
D83 - Search • Learning • Information and Knowledge • Communication • Belief • Unawareness;
O12 - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development;
O17 - Formal and Informal Sectors • Shadow Economy • Institutional Arrangements
Category
Catalogs and Brochures
Data on political engagement of newly eligible young voters in 34 countries during 2004-2016 indicate that voting eligibility is associated with higher political engagement, casting doubt on the view that voters are rationally ignorant. Voting eligibility is associated with higher political interest, more discussion of political issues and attendance of political meetings, and more political knowledge. These effects are stronger in countries with enforced mandatory voting. The increase in political engagement is larger closer to the prior election, and it is driven by the engagement of eligible voters, implying that young voters acquire political information in anticipation of elections rather than ex post.