The political consequences of transitions out of marriage in Great Britain

Publication type

Journal Article

Author

Publication date

June 1, 2010

Abstract:

This article uses British Household Panel Survey data to estimate the effects of divorce and widowhood on political attitudes and political behavior. In contrast to previous research, which mostly relied on cross-sectional data, a matched propensity score analysis does not find any effects of transitions out of marriage on policy preferences, party identification, or vote choice. The results also show that divorce (but not widowhood) substantially reduces electoral participation. Some preliminary evidence suggests that this effect of divorce on turnout is partially attributable to the increased residential mobility that accompanies divorce.

Published in

Electoral Studies

Volume and page numbers

Volume: 29 , p.249 -258

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2010.01.004

ISSN

2613794

Subjects

#513368

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