James Tremewan (HSE University) – The impact of referenda on norm-related beliefs

In 2020, New Zealand held referenda on legalization of recreational cannabis and assisted dying. Exploiting a panel survey, we estimate the effect of the signal provided by the referendum outcome on factual beliefs, and personal and social norms. Consistent with a model of norm-related beliefs, we find that the outcome of the cannabis referendum is associated with respondents updating their prior beliefs, not only about the social acceptability of recreational cannabis use, but also about the frequency of use and associated health risks, as well as changing personal moral views.