[Séminaire CREM Caen] Municipal Mergers and Local Turnout

Abstract:

France, with approximately 35,000 municipalities, stands out among its European neighbors in terms of local administrative units. In the decade, France, similar to its European counterparts, witnessed a significant wave of municipal mergers, aiming to streamline administration and improve efficiency. However, the impact of such mergers on electoral turnout has been a subject of debate in the literature. While some argue that smaller municipalities foster better participation, others advocate for larger ones. Empirical evidence generally suggests that municipal mergers have a negative effect on turnout. This paper contributes to this discourse by examining French municipalities' data from 2014 to 2020. Employing a differences-in-differences methodology, the study finds that municipal amalgamations generally lead to decreased democratic participation by 6 points of percentage, aligning with broader empirical trends. Furthermore, mechanisms and the potential influence of COVID-19 on these dynamics are also taken into account.