Financing democracy in Japan

The allocation and consequences of government subsidies to political parties

Bibliographic Data

ID6316657
AuthorsMatthew Carlson (0000-0002-2193-9952, University of Vermont), Matthew M Carlson (0000-0002-5480-3277, University of Vermont, corresponding author)
Year2012
Volume18
Issue3
Pages391-408
Publication date2012-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueParty Politics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1354-0688 • E-ISSN: 1460-3683
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1354068810380086
OpenAlexW2086600026
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited14

In 1994, the Japanese Diet implemented a system of public assistance for political parties which many hoped would encourage party-centred rather than candidate-centred campaigns. This study examines some of the consequences of this system for party organizations and politicians. Using data culled from official subsidy and campaign finance reports, two empirical questions are addressed: first, how has the advent of the subsidy affected the funds available to national party organizations and to individual politicians? Second, what are the factors that shape the allocation of the subsidy from national party organizations to party branches? It is argued that the subsidy has made it easier for party organizations to access funds but that the amounts of subsidies received by individual politicians are generally too small to alleviate much of their fund-raising pressures. In addition, party leaders have allocated the subsidy largely by following a principle of equality

Business · Campaign finance · Democracy · Economics · Government (linguistics · Market economy · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Public economics · Subsidy · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Political Influence and Corporate Strategies · Public Administration · Social Media and Politics

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub