Shared Space, Social Capital and Voter Turnout: Block Parties in Philadelphia

• In Event: Local Politics at the Forefront of America’s Fight for Racial Equality

Abstract

Along with their socio-economic resources, the "strong ties" of individuals' family and friends are key predictors of political engagement. But most interactions in individuals' daily lives are with acquaintances, colleagues at work, and neighbors. How do these "weak ties" shape individuals' political participation? Using geocoded Census and voting data, and drawing on a unique dataset of city permits for neighborhood "block parties" in Philadelphia over time, this study explores the ways one-off community events that draw neighbors together such as block parties may influence individuals' voting behavior. Initial analysis of these data suggest that neighborhood block parties are positively associated with individual level voting. Taking advantage of the fact that some blocks may request permits some years and not others, the data also allow for causal inference directly linking neighborhoods' "weak ties," indicated by block parties, with individual voter turnout. This research suggests that even casual interactions among individuals in shared spaces shape political engagement.

Authors

• Michael Jones-Correa, University of Pennsylvania

• Tanika Raychaudhuri, University of Houston