Abstract
Levels of redistribution are lower and occurs in other places than than those predicted by standard models of Downsian electoral competition. We introduce a new mechanism that can account for this “redistribution puzzle”, based on an unequl distribution of political knowledge. The level of general education affects both the voters’ income and their incentives to acquire political information. Poorer voters have on average lower levels of political knowledge and hence of electoral platforms. The resulting voting mistakes lower the political weight of poor voters and lead to parties converging to lower levels of redistribution than under complete information. The predictions of the formal model are tested empirically using US election survey data. We find that income and stated political viewpoints are more important in forming voting behavior for more informed voters than for less informed voters, hence confirming the theoretical model.