Where Do the Less Affluent Vote? The Effect of Neighbourhood Social Context on Individual Voting Intentions in England

Abstract

A widely accepted finding in the literature on political participation is that individuals living in poorer neighbourhoods are less likely to vote than those living in more affluent neighbourhoods. Yet, why some poor residents of the most deprived neighbourhoods are more likely to vote than others is still understudied. This article presents a new theoretical framework arguing that when they believe that most others vote in the neighbourhood, poor citizens are more likely to follow their example than wealthy citizens. To empirically test these claims, I develop a two-level multilevel model using survey data and the Index of Multiple Deprivation for England. My findings point to the higher importance of a social norm of voting for the political behaviour of poor individuals than wealthy individuals. Social norms define which behaviour is right and proper. They are enforced through social interactions with others.

Syrians of today, Germans of tomorrow: the effect of initial placement on the political interest of Syrian refugees in Germany

“…Our results can also confirm that political context has an effect on political motivational factors (Brown, 1981;Harrop et al, 1991;Jöst, 2021;Vasilopoulos et al, 2022), as high political interest among the local population in Germany leads to higher political interest among Syrian refugees. Electoral events and their voter turnout and election results show only very weak associations with the likelihood of being interested in German politics.…”

“…Furthermore, Kern et al (2015) have found a correlation between rising unemployment and an increase in political mobilization. Other than the economic context, the political environemnt (2) has also been found to influence one's political motivation factors such as political interest, voting behavior and political identification (Brown, 1981;Harrop et al, 1991;Jöst, 2021;Vasilopoulos et al, 2022). Furthermore, Finifter and Finifter (1989) have shown that voting behavior and party identification become more similar to the new neighborhood to which people move.…”

“…Several studies see the reason for a higher political activity not just in the socio-economic and the political context of the neighborhood (Huckfeldt, 1979;Giles and Dantico, 1982;Harrop et al, 1991;Jöst, 2021), but also in the networks (3), especially in the number of immigrants living in the neighborhood (Nihad, 2018;Bratsberg et al, 2021;Vasilopoulos et al, 2022). Bilodeau (2008) encountered that immigrants living in an area with a higher share of immigrants are more prone to take part in political actions.…”

Everyday Choices

“…The American poor act much like the Ghanaians in Pankani's (2014) study discussed at the outset of this Element. Similarly, studying poor communities in England, Prisca Jöst (2021) finds evidence that the poor's voting behaviour is more closely associated with their beliefs over how others in their community vote than is the case for wealthier Brits. She argues that the poor have fewer links to individuals outside their community and thus fewer external options.…”

“…On the strength of social ties, seeArias et al (2019),Aspinall and Sukmajati (2016),Cruz et al (2020), Ferrali et al (2019,Jöst andLust (2021), andPutnam (2000). Regarding different rules, seeAmbec (2008),Bowles et al (2003), and Lawson and Greene (2014) on altruism and reciprocity;Kruks-Wisner (2018) andLieberman (2009) on group boundaries; Berge et al (2014), Brulé and Gaikwad (2021), and Robinson and Gottlieb (2019) on lineage practices; and Fearon and Laitin (1996) on conflict mediation.…”