Voting Technology, Political Responsiveness, and Infant Health: Evidence From Brazil

Publication Year
2015

Type

Journal Article
Abstract
This paper studies the introduction of electronic voting technology in Brazilian elec- tions. Estimates exploiting a regression discontinuity design indicate that electronic voting reduced residual (error-ridden and uncounted) votes and promoted a large de facto enfranchisement of mainly less educated citizens. Estimates exploiting the unique pattern of the technology's phase-in across states over time suggest that, as predicted by political economy models, it shifted government spending toward health care, which is particularly beneficial to the poor. Positive effects on both the utilization of health services (prenatal visits) and newborn health (low-weight births) are also found for less educated mothers, but not for the more educated.
Journal
Econometrica
Volume
83
Pages
423–464
ISSN Number
0012-9682
ISBN
0012-9682