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Elections and strategic positioning games

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  • Frank Page Jr
  • Myrna Wooders

Abstract

We formalize the interplay between expected voting behavior and strategic positioning behavior of candidates as a common agency problem in which the candidates (i.e., the principals) compete for voters (i.e., agents) via the issues they choose and the positions they take. A political situation is defined as a feasible combination of candidate positions and expected political payoffs to the candidates. Taking this approach, we are led naturally to a particular formalization of the candidates' positioning game, called a political situation game. Within the context of this game, we define the notion of farsighted stability (introduced in an abstract setting by Chwe 1994) and apply Chwe's result to obtain existence of farsightedly stable outcomes. We compute the farsightedly stable sets for several examples of political situations games, with outcomes that conform to real-world observations. Copyright Springer-Verlag Berlin/Heidelberg 2003

Suggested Citation

  • Frank Page Jr & Myrna Wooders, 2003. "Elections and strategic positioning games," Review of Economic Design, Springer;Society for Economic Design, vol. 8(1), pages 63-83, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reecde:v:8:y:2003:i:1:p:63-83
    DOI: 10.1007/s10058-003-0093-z
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Farsighted stability; political common agency games;

    JEL classification:

    • C7 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory
    • D7 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making

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