The Political Life Cycle, Period Effect, Generational Effects and the ‘Youth Vote’

Abstract

This chapter explores the life cycle effect, the period effect, the generational or cohort effect and the ‘youth vote’. The chapter first provides definitions and detailed explanations of the life cycle, period and generational effects. It then discusses them in relation to political awareness and political interest. The chapter goes on to examine critically their validity regarding political party identification and affiliation, membership of political parties, electoral registration and electoral participation. The term the ‘youth vote’ is then examined pertaining to policy issues and manifesto pledges. Last, the chapter deals with the potential roles of these four notions in the 2016 referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU and the 2017 General Election, as well as implications for the future political participation of young people.