What Sort of People Vote Expressively

Abstract

Using a survey and an experiment, we identify the personal characteristics associated with the difference between an individual’s giving to charity and her vote in a referendum on charitable giving. Under certain circumstances, high levels of self-reported trust and happiness, and participation in social group activities, are associated with expressive voting for high levels of charitable giving. However, the sequencing of the experiments is of crucial importance. The ‘warm glow’ of expressive voting can influence subsequent individual decisions, and the ‘cold shower’ of individual selfishness can influence subsequent collective decisions.