Ethnic Voting and Local Resource Competition: Evidence from Kenya

• In Event: How Spatial Context and Institutions Affect Behavior and Distributive Outcomes

Abstract

Research on local context and ethnic voting in developing countries often assumes ethnic diversity goes with competition over resources between members of different ethnic groups. This paper develops an explanation of the effect of local context on ethnic voting that begins with the observation that ethnic diversity and resource competition go together as people seek to migrate into (or resist leaving) ethnically diverse areas with access to valuable resources and markets. Therefore, rates of ethnic voting will be higher in high-value locations, particularly when inter-ethnic relations deteriorate and amongst residents with the fewest exit options. This paper tests these arguments in Kenya between 2006 and 2014 using estimates of ethnic composition based on voter registers.

Author

• Kimuli Kasara, Columbia University