Deprivation and the electoral geography of Brexit

Calvert Jump, Robert; Michell, Jo

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the relationship between deprivation and the electoral geography of Brexit, using the most granular referendum data and the most detailed deprivation data currently available. Using rank-based statistics we demonstrate that geographic deprivation is positively associated with Leave voting. However, this relationship is neither strong nor straightforward: educational deprivation drives the association, and once higher educational attainment or occupational composition are controlled for the association becomes negative. This has important implications for narratives that assume a causal mechanism connecting multi-dimensional deprivation with the geography of Brexit.

Citation

Calvert Jump, R., & Michell, J. (2020). Deprivation and the electoral geography of Brexit

• Publication Date: Dec 29, 2020
• Deposit Date: Feb 10, 2021
• Keywords: Brexit, Deprivation, Geography
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7045847
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3727280