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Electoral Institutions and Intraparty Cohesion

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  • Matakos, Konstantinos
  • Savolainen, Riikka
  • Troumpounis, Orestis
  • Tukiainen, Janne
  • Xefteris, Dimitrios

Abstract

We study parties' optimal ideological cohesion across electoral rules, when the following trade-off is present: A more heterogenous set of candidates is electorally appealing (catch-all party), yet, it serves policy-related goals less efficiently. When the rule becomes more disproportional, thus inducing a more favorable seat allocation for the winner, the first effect is amplified, incentivizing parties to be less cohesive. We provide empirical support using a unique data-set that records candidates' ideological positions in Finnish municipal elections. Exploiting an exogenous change of electoral rule disproportionality at different population thresholds, we identify the causal effect of electoral rules on parties' cohesion. This version (March 4, 2019) replaces the July 12, 2018 version.

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  • Matakos, Konstantinos & Savolainen, Riikka & Troumpounis, Orestis & Tukiainen, Janne & Xefteris, Dimitrios, 2018. "Electoral Institutions and Intraparty Cohesion," Working Papers 109, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:fer:wpaper:109
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    3. Tukiainen, Janne & Takalo, Tuomas & Hulkkonen, Topi, 2019. "Relative age effects in political selection," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 50-63.
    4. Sahuguet, Nicolas & Crutzen, Benoît SY & Hideo, Konishi, 2021. "The Best at the Top? Candidate Ranking Strategies under Closed List Proportional Representation," CEPR Discussion Papers 16057, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. De Santo, Alessia & Le Maux, Benoît, 2023. "On the optimal size of legislatures: An illustrated literature review," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    6. Konstantinos Matakos & Riikka Savolainen & Janne Tukiainen, 2020. "Refugee Migration and the Politics of Redistribution: Do Supply and Demand Meet?," Discussion Papers 132, Aboa Centre for Economics.
    7. Rafael Hortala-Vallve & Jaakko Meriläinen & Janne Tukiainen, 2021. "Pre-Electoral Coalitions: Insights into the Creation of Political Parties," Discussion Papers 143, Aboa Centre for Economics.
    8. Royce Carroll & Monika Nalepa, 2020. "The personal vote and party cohesion: Modeling the effects of electoral rules on intraparty politics," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 32(1), pages 36-69, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    electoral systems; ideological heterogeneity; party cohesion; policymotivated parties; proportional representation; regression discontinuity design; Local public finance and provision of public services; C21; C72; D02; D72; Kunnat ja hyvinvointialueet;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior

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