Replication data for: The Political Economy of the Prussian Three-Class Franchise

How did the Prussian three-class franchise, which politically
over-represented the economic elite, affect policies? Contrary to the
predominant and simplistic view that the system allowed the landed elites to
capture most political rents, we find that members of parliament from
constituencies with a higher vote inequality support more liberal policies,
gauging their political orientation from the universe of roll call votes cast
in parliament during Prussia’s rapid industrialization (1867–1903). Consistent
with the characteristics of German liberalism that aligned with economic
interests of business, the link between vote inequality and liberal voting is
stronger in regions with large-scale industry.

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