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Decentralization in Costa Rica: The Effects of Reform on Participation and Accountability
Author(s) -
Ryan Jeffrey
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
latin american policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.195
H-Index - 4
eISSN - 2041-7373
pISSN - 2041-7365
DOI - 10.1111/j.2041-7373.2012.00069.x
Subject(s) - decentralization , turnout , accountability , ordinary least squares , socioeconomic status , politics , voter turnout , corporate governance , principal (computer security) , work (physics) , political science , devolution (biology) , variables , local governance , local government , econometrics , economics , public administration , geography , sociology , voting , demography , statistics , mathematics , computer science , law , population , archaeology , engineering , operating system , mechanical engineering , finance , human evolution
Although the literature on decentralization and electoral participation is abundant, work on the connection between the two is sparse. This article hypothesizes that, as municipalities become more responsible for local governance, voter turnout will increase. Three sets of ordinary least squares regression models are estimated. The first uses traditional predictors of turnout in the form of demographic and socioeconomic variables. The second uses governance and political variables tied directly to decentralization, which have not been extensively tested in the literature. The final model combines both sets of variables. The two principal findings are that decentralization‐related variables are significantly linked to higher local turnout and that the factors accounting for electoral participation at the local level differ from those at the national level in important ways.