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Pivotality and Responsibility Attribution in Sequential Voting

Author

Listed:
  • Björn Bartling

    (Department of Economics, University of Zürich, Switzerland)

  • Urs Fischbacher

    (Department of Economics, University of Konstanz, Germany, and TWI Kreuzlingen, Switzerland)

  • Simeon Schudy

    (Department of Economics, University of Konstanz, Germany)

Abstract

Are people blamed for being pivotal if they implement an unpopular outcome in a sequential voting process? We conduct an experimental voting game and analyze how pivotality affects responsibility attribution by parties who can be negatively affected by the voting outcome. We measure responsibility attribution by assigned punishment points and find that pivotal decision makers are blamed significantly more than non-pivotal decision makers. Moreover, we find that some voters avoid being pivotal by voting strategically to delegate the pivotal vote to subsequent decision makers.

Suggested Citation

  • Björn Bartling & Urs Fischbacher & Simeon Schudy, 2014. "Pivotality and Responsibility Attribution in Sequential Voting," Working Paper Series of the Department of Economics, University of Konstanz 2014-01, Department of Economics, University of Konstanz.
    • Handle: RePEc:knz:dpteco:1401
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    File URL: http://www.uni-konstanz.de/FuF/wiwi/workingpaperseries/WP_01_Bartling-Fischbacher-Schudy_2014.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Falk, Armin & Szech, Nora, 2013. "Organizations, diffused pivotality and immoral outcomes," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Economics of Change SP II 2013-303, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Pivotality; voting; responsibility attribution; blame; delegation; experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior

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