A theory of the allocation of political time

canegrati, emanuele (2007): A theory of the allocation of political time.

Abstract

In this paper I will introduce a microfounded model of political ac- tivities. The aim is twofold: �rst of all, �lling an existing gap with the actual literature which still lacks of a theoretical explanation about how voters choose their leisure acitivities in particular those related with Politics; secondly, explaining why the old may have an interest to spend a greater amount of their leisure in political activities than the young. Empirical evidence taken by the British Election Suvery, con- �rm the hipothesis: political acitivism is related to age (although other individual characteristics, such as gender and education contribute to increase the explanatory power of regressions) and the old follow di¤er- ent activities in order to lobby politicians. Finally the paper represents an empirical proof for the Single Mindedness Theory of Social Secu- rity Systems, which states that since the old have a natural preference for leisure, they have to �nd a �nancial coverage for the reduction in labour income due to their decision to early retire or to reduce their labour supply.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Institution: catholic university of sacred heart
• Language: English
• Subjects: J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J2 - Demand and Supply of Labor; D - Microeconomics > D7 - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making > D72 - Political Processes: Rent-Seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior; D - Microeconomics > D0 - General

References

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