When Does Ethnic Diversity Lead to Violence? Evidence from the 2007 Elections in Kenya

TY - UNPB

T1 - When Does Ethnic Diversity Lead to Violence?

T2 - Evidence from the 2007 Elections in Kenya

AU - Markussen, Thomas

AU - Mbuvi, Kitavi

N1 - JEL classification: D74 H4 J6 O55

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Some people have a concern for a fair distribution of incomes while others do not. Does such a concern matter for majority voting on redistribution? Fairness preferences are relevant for redistribution outcomes only if fair-minded voters are pivotal. Pivotality, in turn, depends on the structure of income classes. We experimentally study voting on redistribution between two income classes and show that the effect of inequality aversion is asymmetric. Inequality aversion is more likely to matter if the “rich” are in majority. With a “poor” majority, we find that redistribution outcomes look as if all voters were exclusively motivated by self-interest.

AB - Some people have a concern for a fair distribution of incomes while others do not. Does such a concern matter for majority voting on redistribution? Fairness preferences are relevant for redistribution outcomes only if fair-minded voters are pivotal. Pivotality, in turn, depends on the structure of income classes. We experimentally study voting on redistribution between two income classes and show that the effect of inequality aversion is asymmetric. Inequality aversion is more likely to matter if the “rich” are in majority. With a “poor” majority, we find that redistribution outcomes look as if all voters were exclusively motivated by self-interest.

M3 - Working paper

BT - When Does Ethnic Diversity Lead to Violence?

PB - Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen

ER -