Votes and Violence: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Nigeria

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Collier, Paul; Vicente, Pedro C.
• 署名单位: University of Oxford; Center for Economic & Policy Research (CEPR); Universidade Nova de Lisboa
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1111/ecoj.12109
• 发表日期: 2014
• 页码: F327-F355
• 关键词: Elections; clientelism; COMPETITION; DEMOCRACY

摘要

Elections are now common in low-income societies. However, they are frequently flawed. We investigate a Nigerian election marred by violence. We designed and conducted a nationwide field experiment based on anti-violence campaigning. The campaign appealed to collective action through electoral participation, and worked through town meetings, popular theatres and door-to-door distribution of materials. We find that the campaign decreased violence perceptions and increased empowerment to counteract violence. We observe a rise in voter turnout and infer that the intimidation was dissociated from incumbents. These effects are accompanied by a reduction in the intensity of actual violence, as measured by journalists.