Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Konstantinos Matakos
Author-Name-First: Konstantinos
Author-Name-Last: Matakos
Author-Name: Orestis Troumpounis
Author-Name-First: Orestis
Author-Name-Last: Troumpounis
Author-Name: Dimitrios Xefteris
Author-Name-First: Dimitrios
Author-Name-Last: Xefteris
Title: Turnout and polarization under alternative electoral systems
Abstract: We present a formal model of electoral competition where parties' platforms are endogenously chosen and depend on the degree of the electoral rule disproportionality. We first show that proportional electoral systems generate centrifugal forces that increase candidate differentiation. This in turn implies that more proportional systems are associated with lower levels of abstention from indifference. This two step theoretical prediction of the effect of electoral systems on turnout is then empirically validated even when we jointly control for the prevailing pivotality and party-system size hypotheses. Thus, our work highlights an additional link in the proportionality-turnout nexus.
Creation-Date: 2014
File-URL: http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/documents/lums/economics/working-papers/TurnoutPolarization.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
Number: 77401404
Classification-JEL: C23, C26, D02, D72
Keywords: 
Handle: RePEc:lan:wpaper:77401404