Age, Cohort or Period. Disentangling the Causes of Political Disinterest in Spain

Abstract

To what extent can age, period and cohort effects explain the low levels
of political interest in Spain? Age cannot account for the evolution of the
aggregate levels of this attitude, whereas generational replacement may
be responsible for some degree of change in the medium to long term,
although it remains to be determined whether this effect would raise,
reproduce, or lower aggregate levels of political interest. Finally, it is advisable
to control these effects with the period, the only factor capable
of provoking short-term changes in the aggregate level of this attitude.
The article also tries to shed some light on the mechanisms responsible
for the different levels of political interest among cohorts. It concludes
that the degree of social and economic development experienced while
growing up is crucial.