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The Impact of Gentrification on Voter Turnout *
Author(s) -
Gibbs Knotts H.,
Haspel Moshe
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
social science quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1540-6237
pISSN - 0038-4941
DOI - 10.1111/j.0038-4941.2006.00371.x
Subject(s) - gentrification , turnout , voter turnout , census , atlanta , demographic economics , politics , geography , political science , sociology , demography , economic growth , economics , voting , population , law , metropolitan area , archaeology
Objective. The goal of this article is to test between two competing theories (mobilization vs. destabilization) about the impact of gentrification on political participation. Methods. Using geographic information systems (GIS) software, Census data from 1990 and 2000, and a voter file for the City of Atlanta, we estimate a multilevel model of voter turnout. Results. Controlling for relevant individual and contextual factors, we find that gentrification decreases turnout among longstanding residents. Conclusions. Our findings provide support for the destabilization hypothesis and suggest that policymakers should develop strategies to soften the negative consequences of gentrification.