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Do supermajority rules really deter extremism? the role of electoral competition 1

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  • Daiki Kishishita

    (Department of Business Economics, School of Management, 26413Tokyo University of Science. E-mail: daiki.kishishita@gmail.com)

  • Atsushi Yamagishi

    (Department of Economics, 6740Princeton University.)

Abstract

This study investigates how supermajority rules in a legislature affect electoral competition. We construct an extensive-form game wherein parties choose policy platforms in an election. Post election, the policy is determined based on a legislative voting rule. At symmetric equilibrium, supermajority rules induce divergence of policy platforms if and only if the parties are sufficiently attached to their preferred platform. Thus, supermajority rules may not always lead to moderate policies once electoral competition is considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Daiki Kishishita & Atsushi Yamagishi, 2022. "Do supermajority rules really deter extremism? the role of electoral competition 1," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 34(1), pages 127-144, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jothpo:v:34:y:2022:i:1:p:127-144
    DOI: 10.1177/09516298211061161
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    References listed on IDEAS

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