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Change in parliamentary party systems and policy outcomes: Hunting the core

Author

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  • Carol Mershon

    (University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA)

  • Olga Shvetsova

    (State University of New York, Binghamton, USA)

Abstract

This paper shows that change in party systems within parliaments can lead to major change in policy outcomes. Specifically, we show that policy mobility of parties and fluidity in their parliamentary membership can generate or upset the existence of the policy core as well as determine its location. Our analysis applies to the general case of a multiparty parliament. We then follow up with empirical illustrations that conform to the major types of theoretical dynamics in our analysis, where party change that occurred in parliaments was consistent with attempts to manipulate the policy core.

Suggested Citation

  • Carol Mershon & Olga Shvetsova, 2014. "Change in parliamentary party systems and policy outcomes: Hunting the core," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 26(2), pages 331-351, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jothpo:v:26:y:2014:i:2:p:331-351
    DOI: 10.1177/0951629813511718
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Baron, David P. & Ferejohn, John A., 1989. "Bargaining in Legislatures," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 83(4), pages 1181-1206, December.
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    7. Mershon,Carol & Shvetsova,Olga, 2013. "Party System Change in Legislatures Worldwide," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521765831.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Paula González & Francesca Passarelli & M. Socorro Puy, 2019. "Discipline, party switching and policy divergence," Working Papers 19.05, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Economics.

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