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Do Elections lead to Informed Public Decisions?

Author

Listed:
  • Otto H. Swank

    (Faculty of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam)

  • Bauke Visser

    (Faculty of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam)

Abstract

This discussion paper led to a publication in 'Public Choice', 129, 435-460. Democracies delegate substantial decision power to politicians. Using a model in which an incumbent can design, examine and implement public policies, we show that examination takes place in spite of, rather than thanks to, elections. Elections are needed as a carrot and a stick to motivate politicians, yet politicians who are overly interested in re-election shy away from policy examination. Our analysis sheds light on the distance created in mature democracies between the political process and the production of policy relevant information; on the role played by probing into candidates' past; and on the possibility of crowding out desirable political behaviour by increasing the value of holding office.

Suggested Citation

  • Otto H. Swank & Bauke Visser, 2003. "Do Elections lead to Informed Public Decisions?," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 03-067/1, Tinbergen Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20030067
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mejía Cubillos, Javier, 2012. "Libertad y desempeño económico [Freedom and economic performance]," MPRA Paper 37939, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Silvia Dominguez-Martinez & Otto Swank, 2006. "Polarization, Information Collection and Electoral Control," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 26(3), pages 527-545, June.
    3. Enrico Giovannini, 2008. "Statistics and Politics in a “Knowledge Society”," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 86(2), pages 177-200, April.
    4. Eric Borgne & Ben Lockwood, 2006. "Do Elections Always Motivate Incumbents? Learning vs. Re-Election Concerns," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 129(1), pages 41-60, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Democracy; Media; Policy Examination; Multiple Tasks; Information; Elections;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D78 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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