Economic Shocks and Civic Engagement: Evidence from the 2010-11 Pakistan Floods

DateMarch 31, 2014

Time5:00am to 6:30am

Location
4357 Bunche Hall

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How countries transition from autocracy to democracy is a key question in both economics and political science. A number of recent studies have examined links between natural disasters and democratization. Using diverse data sources we show that the massive 2010-11 Pakistan floods had no persistent economic impact, but that Pakistanis living in flood-affected places became significantly more politically engaged than their unaffected peers: they turned out to vote at substantially higher rates in subsequent elections, acquired greater political knowledge, and developed more aggressive attitudes about demanding services. These results call into question the interpretation of a broad set of papers and tie into a rich literature in political economy showing that disasters can have complicated political consequences beyond their economic impacts.

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