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The cost of proportional representations in electoral system design

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  • Byeong-hyeon Jeong

    (University of Zurich)

Abstract

We present an impossibility result concerning the design of dual vote electoral systems that meet three key conditions: proportional party representation, proportional local representation, and local accountability. By identifying the necessary number of compensatory seats to meet these three conditions in dual vote systems, we show that the number is not bounded in general; thus, it can be very costly to achieve the three conditions. When a cap is applied to the total seats, combined with a district-decentralization, semi-compensatory dual vote systems that distribute the limited compensatory seats to enhance proportionality become vulnerable to strategic manipulations. Specifically, when political parties seek to maximize their legislative representation, they might employ the strategy of creating ‘decoy’ party lists.

Suggested Citation

  • Byeong-hyeon Jeong, 2024. "The cost of proportional representations in electoral system design," Economic Theory Bulletin, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 12(1), pages 47-56, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:etbull:v:12:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s40505-024-00261-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s40505-024-00261-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gabrielle Demange, 2013. "On Allocating Seats To Parties And Districts: Apportionments," International Game Theory Review (IGTR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 15(03), pages 1-14.
    2. M. L. Balinski & G. Demange, 1989. "An Axiomatic Approach to Proportionality Between Matrices," Mathematics of Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 14(4), pages 700-719, November.
    3. Kim Border, 2007. "Reduced Form Auctions Revisited," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 31(1), pages 167-181, April.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Electoral design; Voting; Dual vote system;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior

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