Connecting Votes, Exploring the Impact of Broadband Infrastructure De- ployment on Voter Behavior
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With Marc Bourreau and Lukasz Grzybowski. This paper aims to study the effect of network infrastructure such as broadband internet over voters behavior at a local level. Using data on municipal elections between 2008 and 2020 as well as fiber network deployment data in France, we estimate the probability of an incumbent mayor to be reelected or not to be reelected. The outcomes of the Heckman models with instrumental variables yield that the effect of fiber deployment is heterogeneous among french municipalities, depending on their size, their geographic situation or even their political commitment. Overall, it appears that incumbent mayors are punished by their electors when fiber is not developed while there is a national plan.
Recommended citation: Working paper, please do not circulate
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