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A Comparative Theory of Electoral Incentives

Author

Listed:
  • Kathleen Bawn

    (UCLA, kbawn@polisci.ucla.edu)

  • Michael F. Thies

    (UCLA, thies@nicco.sscnet.ucla.edu)

Abstract

We expand Denzau and Munger’s 1986 model of ‘How Unorganized Interests Get Represented’ to address cross-national differences in electoral systems. We look at how individual legislators allocate their efforts to serving unorganized constituents versus organized groups. Our model shows how the optimal allocation of effort is affected by differences in nominating processes and electoral rules. Our findings include the following: (1) Closed-list proportional representation (PR) makes legislators generally more responsive to interest groups and less responsive to unorganized voters than single-member districts (SMD). (2) This difference becomes smaller as the personal component of the SMD vote diminishes. (3) Legislators elected via lists in a mixed system may be even less responsive to the unorganized than legislators in a pure list system.

Suggested Citation

  • Kathleen Bawn & Michael F. Thies, 2003. "A Comparative Theory of Electoral Incentives," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 15(1), pages 5-32, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jothpo:v:15:y:2003:i:1:p:5-32
    DOI: 10.1177/0951692803151001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Denzau, Arthur T. & Munger, Michael C., 1986. "Legislators and Interest Groups: How Unorganized Interests Get Represented," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 80(1), pages 89-106, March.
    2. Hall, Richard L. & Wayman, Frank W., 1990. "Buying Time: Moneyed Interests and the Mobilization of Bias in Congressional Committees," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 84(3), pages 797-820, September.
    3. Schwartz, Thomas, 1994. "Representation as Agency and the Pork Barrel Paradox," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 78(1), pages 3-21, January.
    4. Anthony Downs, 1957. "An Economic Theory of Political Action in a Democracy," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 65, pages 135-135.
    5. Weingast, Barry R & Shepsle, Kenneth A & Johnsen, Christopher, 1981. "The Political Economy of Benefits and Costs: A Neoclassical Approach to Distributive Politics," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 89(4), pages 642-664, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jin-Hyuk Kim, 2008. "A welfare simulation of mixed-member electoral systems," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 136(3), pages 447-456, September.

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