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

Thomas Markussen; Kitavi  Mbuvi

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

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Publisher	Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen
Number of pages	30
Publication status	Published - 2011

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http://www.econ.ku.dk/english/research/publications/wp/dp_2011/1119.pdf/

Cite this

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