Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/272032 
Year of Publication: 
2023
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 10388
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
This paper exploits a novel trial in Norwegian local elections in 2011 to provide empirical evidence on fiscal performance from lowering the minimum voting age from 18 to 16. Using a difference in differences research strategy, we find that this voting age change reduced the net operating surplus by around 600NOK (€60) per capita. This finding is consistent with micro evidence that young individuals have higher discount rates and are more likely to take risk than older ones, although other evidence is needed to confirm that interpretation. Further heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that increased deficits (reduced net operating surplus) due to the extension of the youth voting franchise mainly appear in governments with low party fragmentation and a large share of socialist politicians in the local council.
Subjects: 
local public finance
fiscal performance
minimum voting age
JEL: 
C23
D72
H72
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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