Using data of Swiss referenda from 1981 to 1999, this paper presents new empirical results which allow us to discriminate better between the decision and mobilisation hypotheses of electoral participation. First, theoretical considerations which lead to these hypotheses are presented as well as...

Using data of Swiss referenda from 1981 to 1999, this paper presents new empirical results which allow us to discriminate better between the decision and mobilisation hypotheses of electoral participation. First, theoretical considerations which lead to these hypotheses are presented as well as...

According to the theory of "expressive voting", the individual gives more weight to her "warm-glow" preferences for a public good than to her instrumental interests when casting a vote rather than deciding in a market environment. Even so, these expressive preferences can be moderated since they...