Transition to adulthood and turnout. Some unexpected implications from the Italian case

Abstract

Our article aims to study the evolution of turnout in Italy during the transition to adulthood. Previous studies in other countries (Bhatti and Hansen 2012) have attested an unexpected phase after the first vote, when turnout declines instead of following a progressive increase. We hypothesize that this trend also exists in Italy and is influenced by the characteristics of the living arrangement. The decision to leave or postpone the timing of exit from the parental home seems to play a crucial rule in the explanation of young adults’ lower turnout. We also expect an interactive effect of variables such as the age-class of the young, their sex and occupational status. Data used for the analysis comes from two different sources (Osservatorio Prospex-Cattaneo, Itanes) and allows us to compare the level of turnout of young people in different living arrangements.