Patrimonial economic voting: a cross-national analysis of asset ownership and the vote

Abstract

Our study examines the impact possession of assets (patrimony) has on the vote in 34 countries. We provide the first comprehensive test of patrimony on the vote cross-nationally. Using Module 4 of the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES) and hierarchical models, we show that asset ownership matters and has a direct effect on the vote in several countries. More assets increase the likelihood of supporting the right. In other nations, its effect is indirect or absent. Accounting for this macro variation, we show that patrimonial voting is stronger in liberal welfare states and in countries where the tax system does not limit incentives to invest. However, we find no evidence that patrimonial voting is conditioned by ideological polarization. Our research highlights that economic voting is multidimensional and that patrimony, especially in some countries, is a potent determinant of the vote.