Pocketbook Voting, Social Preferences, and Expressive Motives in Referenda
Johannes Meya  1@  , Panu Poutvaara  2, *@  , Robert Schwager  3@  
1 : Bundesnetzagentur
2 : LMU Munich and Ifo Institute
3 : University of Goettingen
* : Corresponding author

We develop and test a theory of voting and turnout decisions that integrates self-interest, social preferences, and expressive motives. Our model implies that if pocketbook benefits are relevant, voters either perceive their impact on the outcome to be non-negligible, or expressive motivations do not play a role in the decision on how to vote. Conversely, if own pocketbook benefits do not explain voting, then voting is expressive. If the perceived probability of being pivotal is non-negligible, social preferences and expressive concerns are observationally equivalent. Our empirical analysis studies collective choices which are analogous to decisions on local public goods.


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