UnfAirbnb! The effect of short-term letting on electoral behaviour

Abstract

Over the last few years, short-term lets or home sharing have radically changed the dynamics of mass tourism and triggered disruptive consequences for civic, social and economic life. While lucrative for some, it has also impacted the character of different urban areas, creating significant changes to the local economy and often triggering citizens’ discontent. While previous works have focused on the economic and urban effects of short-term letting, much less is known about the electoral impact of the ‘Airbnb phenomenon’. Does it lead to a higher propensity to vote for certain parties? Using detailed geographic data on Airbnb locations in Barcelona and geo-located individual-level surveys, this article examines the effect of short-term letting on electoral behaviour. We contend that short-term letting can become a mobilising issue for political entrepreneurs. Our analysis shows that areas with a higher concentration of Airbnbs were more likely to vote for the party that campaigned in favour of restrictive home-sharing regulations. This study has important implications for our understanding of the interplay between urban management, housing, protest and vote choice.