Politicians’ Neighborhoods: Where Do They Live and Does It Matter?

• In Event: New Directions in Comparative Political Inequality Research

Abstract

We use detailed population-wide data on the location of politicians’ and citizens homes and their socioeconomic traits. We combine these data with neighborhood-level data on building permits proposals to close schools. A descriptive analysis uncovers two features of the home neighborhoods of local politicians. They have larger shares of socioeconomically advantaged people in terms of income, education, immigrant status, and homeownership. They also have more voters for the politician’s own party. Next, we analyze if having politicians’ homes in a neighborhood reduces the likelihood that local public bads are placed there. This analysis compares home neighborhoods for politicians with different degrees of political power (ruling majority or opposition) and where the majority won power in close elections. We find negative effects of politicians’ homes on approved building permits for multifamily homes and proposals to close schools. This result is not explained by the residential patterns of voters, making undue favoritism a more likely explanation. We conclude that local politicians live in advantaged neighborhoods and shield these neighborhoods from local public bads.

Authors

• Olle Folke, Uppsala University

• Matz Dahlberg, Uppsala University

• Linna Marten, Uppsala University

• Johanna Rickne, Stockholm University