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Voting with Preferences over Margins of Victory

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  • Humberto Llavador

Abstract

This paper analyzes a two-alternative voting model with the distinctive feature that voters have preferences over the support that each alternative receives, and not only over the identity of the winner. The main result of the paper is the existence of a unique equilibrium outcome with a very intuitive characterization: in equilibrium voters who prefer a higher support for one of the alternatives vote for such alternative. Its computation is equally simple: the equilibrium outcome is the unique fixed point of the connected survival function associated to the distribution of the electorate. This characterization works for electorates with a finite number of citizens as well as with a continuum of agents, and for scenarios with and without abstention. Finally, strategic voting (voting for the least preferred alternative) is common for a fraction of the electorate who favor electorally "balanced" results.

Suggested Citation

  • Humberto Llavador, 2005. "Voting with Preferences over Margins of Victory," Working Papers 230, Barcelona School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:bge:wpaper:230
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David A. M. Peterson & Lawrence J. Grossback & James A. Stimson & Amy Gangl, 2003. "Congressional Response to Mandate Elections," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 47(3), pages 411-426, July.
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    3. Kedar, Orit, 2005. "When Moderate Voters Prefer Extreme Parties: Policy Balancingin Parliamentary Elections," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 99(2), pages 185-199, May.
    4. George Stigler, 1972. "Economic competition and political competition," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 91-106, September.
    5. Humberto Llavador, 2006. "Electoral Platforms, Implemented Policies, and Abstention," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 27(1), pages 55-81, August.
    6. James Fowler, 2005. "Dynamic Responsiveness in the U.S. Senate," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 49(2), pages 299-312, April.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Helios Herrera & Aniol Llorente-Saguer & Joseph C McMurray, 2019. "The Marginal Voter's Curse," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 129(624), pages 3137-3153.
    2. Helios Herrera & Aniol Llorente-Saguer & Joseph C McMurray, 2019. "The Marginal Voter's Curse," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 129(624), pages 3137-3153.
    3. Ming Li & Dipjyoti Majumdar, 2010. "A Psychologically Based Model of Voter Turnout," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 12(5), pages 979-1002, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    voting; plurality; abstention; strategic voting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior

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