The enduring impact of democracy on political behaviour: voting on European integration in the European Parliament
研究早期民主经历如何影响欧洲议会议员投票行为，发现18-25岁经历更多民主制度的议员更支持欧洲一体化，对理解民主倒退和欧盟扩大的长期影响有启示。
This paper explores how early-life exposure to democracy shapes the voting behaviour of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Drawing on the ‘impressionable years’ hypothesis, we analyse 30 years of roll-call votes (EP1–6) and find that MEPs who experienced more democratic regimes between ages 18 and 25 are significantly more likely to vote in favour of EU integration. These results are robust across specifications and supported by MEP survey data. Our findings highlight the lasting influence of early institutional environments on elite decision-making and offer important insights for understanding the long-term impact of democratic backsliding and EU enlargement.