Income Distribution and Voting Behavior in the Russian Regions (on the Presidential Election in 2012)

In this paper we analyze the determinants of voting behavior, and show how the income distribution affects the political preferences of voters (based on the results of the federal elections 2012). We define how income corresponds to electoral support for Putin, Prohorov, Zhirinovsky, Zuganov, Mironov and against all. Also we define threshold level of income at which people begin to participate in elections. In this paper we show that Putin draws his support mostly in low income group and within higher income group Putin's support shrinks while support for other candidates expands.