VARIABLES SOCIOESTRUCTURALES Y COMPORTAMIENTO ELECTORAL EN LAS ELECCIONES GENERALES ESPAÑOLAS. UNA PERSPECTIVA EVOLUTIVA 1979-2000

Authors

  • FRANCESC PALLARÉS
  • MARTA FRAILE
  • CLARA RIBA

Keywords:

Electoral behaviour, abstention, socio-structural variables, general elections, Spain.

Abstract

This article analyzes the effects of individual socio-structural characteristics such as age, gender, education, social class and religion in the Spanish electoral behavior in general elections. After a bivariate systematic description of the relationship between these variables and voting patterns, it gives a multivariate analysis of the different components in voters’ decision making. The results provide evidence that the gender gap has all but disappeared although age, social class and religious convictions still play an important role in voting behaviour. The socio-structural variables are of less statistical significance when the variables of identification and of conjuncture are included. This is mainly due to the fact that they are fundamental parts of the formation of the very identities and opinions that are reflected in these variables.

Published

2008-03-24

Issue

Section

ARTICLES