Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP14763
Authors: Nicolas Sahuguet; Benoit S. Y. Crutzen
Abstract: We develop a two-stage model in which parties select candidates before the election. Elections are under first-past-the-post (FPTP) or closed-list proportional representation (PR). Selection is competitive or non-competitive. With non-competitive selection, candidate effort is higher under FPTP. With competitive selection, effort is higher under PR. Under PR, competition motivates candidates to exert effort to be selected (as under FPTP) and to be ranked higher on the list. Empirical studies comparing electoral rules should consider how parties organize, to avoid omitted variable bias. The results also suggest that electoral rules influence how parties organize.
Keywords: comparative politics; electoral rule; contests; candidate selection; party lists; proportional representation; party organization
JEL Codes: D72; C72
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Electoral rule (FPTP) (K16) | Higher candidate effort (D79) |
| Non-competitive selection (C52) | Higher candidate effort (FPTP) (D79) |
| Competitive selection (C52) | Higher candidate effort (PR) (D79) |
| Electoral rule (PR) (D72) | Increased aggregate effort (D29) |
| Electoral rules (K16) | Organization of political parties (D72) |