Constituency preferences and MP preferences

The electoral connection

Bibliographic Data

ID6314756
AuthorsDanielle Martins (0000-0002-3182-9087, University of Exeter, UK; London School of Economics and Political Science, UK, corresponding author), Simon Hug (0000-0002-7741-2201, University of Geneva)
Year2020
Volume26
Issue5
Pages619-627
Publication date2020-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueParty Politics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1354-0688 • E-ISSN: 1460-3683
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1354068818798861
OpenAlexW2316149905
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited51

The question how voter preferences relate to preferences of representatives under different electoral rules has attracted scholarly attention for some time. Although theoretical work suggests that proportional rule leads to more dispersion of representatives than plurality rule, empirical studies of this nexus have not yet reached a consensus. We argue that this is because they are plagued by serious problems as they rely on measures that differ for both sets of actors. We use behavioral data to estimate ideal points of voters and representatives on a common scale by taking advantage of the high frequency of referendums in Switzerland. We find that members of parliament elected in proportional representation systems are more widely dispersed around the median voter. Probing at what stage this difference in dispersion occurs, we also demonstrate this is the voters’ doing, as it only applies to candidates who are elected

Democracy · Economics · Geography · Ideal (ethics · Nexus (standard · Parliament · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Proportional representation · Representation (politics · Scale (ratio · Computer Science · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Game Theory and Voting Systems · Law · Political Influence and Corporate Strategies

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