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Policy Choices in Assembly versus Representative Democracy: Evidence from Swiss Communes

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  • Patricia Funk

    (Università della Svizzera italiana)

  • Stephan Litschig

    (National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract

This paper investigates whether the form of the legislative institution - citizen assembly versus elected parliament - affects the level and composition of local public expenditure. Our empirical analysis focuses on medium-sized and mostly German-speaking communes in Switzerland that switched from assembly to parliament between 1945 and 2010. Event study estimates suggest that parliament adoption increases total spending by about 6 percent and that this increase is driven mostly by general administration and education spending. To understand potential mechanisms at play, we run a survey among assembly participants and document a sizeable under-representation of 20- to 40-year-olds, as well as of women in assemblies compared to both voters in elections and to the electorate at large. Since these two demographics have relatively strong preferences for public spending on education in our setting, switching from citizen assembly to parliament likely increased their representation in the political process.

Suggested Citation

  • Patricia Funk & Stephan Litschig, 2019. "Policy Choices in Assembly versus Representative Democracy: Evidence from Swiss Communes," GRIPS Discussion Papers 19-27, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:ngi:dpaper:19-27
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    2. Anna Maria Koukal & Patricia Schafer & Reiner Eichenberger, 2020. "The Trade-off between Deepening and Broadening of Democracy Lessons from Youth Enfranchisement," CREMA Working Paper Series 2020-16, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).
    3. Radulescu, Doina & Sulger, Philippe, 2022. "Interdependencies between countries in the provision of energy," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    4. Galletta, Sergio, 2021. "Form of government and voters’ preferences for public spending," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 186(C), pages 548-561.
    5. Doina Maria Radulescu & Philippe Sulger, 2021. "Interdependencies Between Countries in the Provision of Energy," CESifo Working Paper Series 8896, CESifo.
    6. Geschwind, Stephan & Roesel, Felix, 2022. "Taxation under direct democracy," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 536-554.
    7. Koukal, Anna Maria & Schafer, Patricia & Eichenberger, Reiner, 2021. "Enfranchising non-citizens: What drives natives’ willingness to share power?," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 1088-1108.
    8. Schib, Tobias & Stutzer, Alois, 2024. "What Contributes to an Attractive Local Political Office? Evidence from Municipal Council Elections in Switzerland," IZA Discussion Papers 17524, IZA Network @ LISER.
    9. Anna Maria Koukal & Reiner Eichenberger, 2017. "Explaining a Paradox of Democracy: The Role of Institutions in Female Enfranchisement," CREMA Working Paper Series 2017-13, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).
    10. Koukal, Anna Maria & Schafer, Patricia & Eichenberger, Reiner, 2024. "Empowering the next generation: The role of direct democracy in youth enfranchisement," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    11. Aaron Günther & Niklas Potrafke & Felix Rösel & Timo Wochner, 2025. "Losing Political Representation," CESifo Working Paper Series 12051, CESifo.

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