This study examines the effect of investment in transportation infrastructure on regime support in an electoral authoritarian regime. Using a difference-in-difference analysis of neighborhood-level panel data on a subway system from 1971–1985 in urban South Korea, we find that incumbent vote share increased in neighborhoods surrounding the newly constructed subway stations. We show that subway construction was effective at boosting regime support, especially in neighborhoods where people are more likely to read about the government propaganda of subway construction from newspapers. We also provide anecdotal evidence of private economic gains contributing to the increased support for the ruling party. The results suggest that investment in welfare-enhancing goods and services such as public transportation may help autocrats of developing countries to retain political power by increasing electoral support for their ruling parties.

中文翻译：

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注意选举差距：公共基础设施投资对韩国威权支持的影响

本研究考察了交通基础设施投资对选举专制政权中政权支持的影响。通过对 1971 年至 1985 年韩国城市地铁系统的邻里级面板数据进行差分分析，我们发现在新建地铁站周围的邻里，现任投票份额增加。我们表明，地铁建设在促进政权支持方面是有效的，尤其是在人们更有可能从报纸上阅读政府关于地铁建设宣传的社区。我们还提供了私人经济收益有助于增加对执政党的支持的轶事证据。