The disadvantage of winning an election

Enriqueta Aragones and Santiago Sánchez-Pagés

Edinburgh School of Economics Discussion Paper Series from Edinburgh School of Economics, University of Edinburgh

Abstract: This paper analyzes the problem that an incumbent faces during the legislature when deciding how to react to popular initiatives or policy proposals coming from different sources. We argue that this potential source of electoral disadvantage that the incumbent obtains after being elected can jeopardize the re-election possibilities of the incumbent. We analyze the decision of the incumbent when facing re-election and we characterize the conditions under which the advantages that the incumbent obtains can overcome the disadvantages. Finally, we use the results of this analysis to discuss some implications of the use of mechanisms of direct democracy like referenda and popular assemblies on electoral competition.

Keywords: incumbency advantage; referenda; popular initiatives; elections (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D7 H1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 32
Date: 2010-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cdm and nep-pol
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Downloads: (external link)
http://www.econ.ed.ac.uk/papers/id194_esedps.pdf

Related works:
Working Paper: The Disadvantage of Winning an Election (2015)
Working Paper: The disadvantage of winning an election (2010)
Working Paper: The disadvantage of winning an election (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:edn:esedps:194

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