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Non causa pro causa: the left-right vote in Brazil

Abstract

Most studies on voting behavior in Brazil agree that the left-right scale is not associated with vote choice. However, part of the scholarship often ignores or challenges such consensus. To solve this matter, this paper replicates and re-analyzes public opinion data used by studies that propose that voters choose candidates based on left-right positions (1989-2014). The results indicate that those studies present several methodological problems that invalidate their claims. The statistical relationship between ideology and voting is generally weak and only strong among a small group of sophisticated voters. Finally, panel data analysis does not find evidence that the statistical association reflects a causal relationship. All in all, it is time to search for new factors in the explanation of voting behavior in Brazil.

elections; ideology; political sophistication; voting behavior; survey analysis

Centro de Estudos de Opinião Pública da Universidade Estadual de Campinas Cidade Universitária 'Zeferino Vaz", CESOP, Rua Cora Coralina, 100. Prédio dos Centros e Núcleos (IFCH-Unicamp), CEP: 13083-896 Campinas - São Paulo - Brasil, Tel.: (55 19) 3521-7093 - Campinas - SP - Brazil
E-mail: rop@unicamp.br