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Independent Candidates and Political Representation in India

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  • KAPOOR, SACHA
  • MAGESAN, ARVIND

Abstract

We estimate the causal effect of independent candidates on voter turnout and election outcomes in India. To do this, we exploit exogenous changes in the entry deposit candidates pay for their participation in the political process, changes that disproportionately excluded candidates with no affiliation to established political parties. A one standard deviation increase in the number of independent candidates increases voter turnout by more than 6 percentage points, as some voters choose to vote rather than stay home. The vote share of independent candidates increases by more than 10 percentage points, as some existing voters switch who they vote for. Thus, independents allow winning candidates to win with less vote share, decrease the probability of electing a candidate from the governing coalition by about 31 percentage points, and ultimately increase the probability of electing an ethnic-party candidate. Altogether, the results imply that the price of participation by independents is constituency representation in government.

Suggested Citation

  • Kapoor, Sacha & Magesan, Arvind, 2018. "Independent Candidates and Political Representation in India," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 112(3), pages 678-697, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:112:y:2018:i:03:p:678-697_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Rohit Ticku, 2023. "Votes for Sale," RSCAS Working Papers 2023/55, European University Institute.
    2. Perez-Vincent, Santiago M., 2023. "A few signatures matter: Barriers to entry in Italian local politics," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    3. J. Stephen Ferris & Bharatee Bhusana Dash, 2023. "On the structure of the political party system in Indian states, 1957–2018," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 1-35, March.
    4. Corduneanu-Huci, Cristina & Dorsch, Michael T. & Maarek, Paul, 2021. "The politics of experimentation: Political competition and randomized controlled trials," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 1-21.

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