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Why So Many Representatives? Extending the Cube Root Law to Local Assemblies

Author

Listed:
  • Benoît Le Maux

    (University of Rennes 1, CREM-CNRS)

  • Sonia Paty

    (Université Lumière Lyon 2, CNRS, Université Jean-Monnet Saint-Etienne, emlyon business school, GATE, 69007, Lyon, France)

Abstract

We investigate the impact of territorial fragmentation on political representation by applying Taagepera’s cube root law to subnational governments. Our model reveals that the total number of local representatives is more elastic to changes in the number of jurisdictions (elasticity e = 2/3) than to variations in population size (e = 1/3), a relationship we refer to as the law of 2/3. As a result, political representation is amplified in fragmented areas. Empirical evidence from diverse datasets supports this new law.

Suggested Citation

  • Benoît Le Maux & Sonia Paty, 2024. "Why So Many Representatives? Extending the Cube Root Law to Local Assemblies," Working Papers 2414, Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon St-Étienne (GATE Lyon St-Étienne), Université de Lyon.
    • Handle: RePEc:gat:wpaper:2414
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Representative Democracy; Decentralization; Local public sector; Cube Root Law;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • H7 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government

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