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Higher Vote Thresholds for Incumbents, Effort and Selection

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Author Info
Gersbach, Hans

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Abstract

The election mechanism has difficulties in selecting the most able candidates and deselecting less able ones. In a simple model we show that the power of elections as a selection and incentive device can be improved by requiring higher vote thresholds than 50% for incumbents. A higher vote threshold makes it impossible for office-holders of low ability to pool with more able office-holders in order to be reelected. As a consequence, the average ability of reelected politicians and the average effort level tends to increase. The socially optimal threshold can be set by the public. Alternatively, one could allow candidates to compete with individual vote thresholds.

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Paper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number 7320.

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Date of creation: Jun 2009
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Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:7320

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Related research
Keywords: effort; elections; incumbents; political contracts; selection; vote-share thresholds;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
D7 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making
D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information
H4 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods

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This page was last updated on 2009-11-25.

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