Representeras unga lokalt?

Sammanfattning: In this paper youth representation among Swedish local government politicians is examined. Although youth people (18-29 years) constitute 20% of the electorate only about 7 percent of the politicians are young. This means youths are represented at a quota of 37% compared to the other age groups that average at least 100%. The study aims to fins explanations in terms of individual resources and political structures in the Swedish municipalities. The study finds that when it comes to individual resources, the main factor is the education level of the municipality. In terms of political structure, the study finds that the main factor is the presence of the parties’ youth leagues in the municipality and how many offices the average politician holds. However when the variables are controlled for between each other the only significance remains in the share of youth league members and social trust.