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Dimensions, Transactions Costs And Coalitions In Legislative Voting

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  • Kenneth Koford

Abstract

Dimensional studies of Congressional voting have found a single dominant “ideological” dimension, while regression estimates find that constituency variables and party are dominant. Koford (1989b) recalibrated the dimensional studies, and found that several dimensions are important. This study reviews those findings, and then considers additional reasons why dimensional studies might understate the number of dimensions. It then examines the regression estimates for biases that overstate the number of dimensions. Overall, fewer dimensions are found than seem consistent with the wide variety of constituents' preferences on issues. A model is developed in which the transactions costs of building coalitions reduces the number of dimensions visible on roll‐call votes below the underlying dimensionality of preferences in the issue space. When legislative parties build internal coalitions to pass and defeat bills, voting on randomly drawn bills has a single party‐oriented dimension. Natural ideological dimensions are reinforced when parties write bills and logroll along natural lines of cohesion. Numerical examples suggest that these effects could be important, and suggest lines for empirical investigation of the underlying issue space.

Suggested Citation

  • Kenneth Koford, 1990. "Dimensions, Transactions Costs And Coalitions In Legislative Voting," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(1), pages 59-82, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecopol:v:2:y:1990:i:1:p:59-82
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0343.1990.tb00023.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Enelow,James M. & Hinich,Melvin J., 1984. "The Spatial Theory of Voting," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521275156.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ronald N. Johnson & Gary D. Libecap, 2003. "Transaction Costs and Coalition Stability under Majority Rule," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 41(2), pages 193-207, April.
    2. Keith T. Poole & Howard Rosenthal, 1994. "Dimensional Simplification And Economic Theories Of Legislative Behavior," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(2), pages 163-172, July.
    3. Kenneth Koford, 1994. "What Can We Learn About Congressional Politics From Dimensional Studies Of Roll‐Call Voting?," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(2), pages 173-186, July.

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