Minority representation, election method, and policy influence

Tim Sass () and Stephen L. Mehay

Economics and Politics, 2003, vol. 15, issue 3, 323-339

Abstract: Recently a number of legal scholars have advocated jurisdiction‐wide cumulative voting as a mechanism to promote minority representation. Among other benefits, they claim minority representatives will have greater policy influence if they are elected in at‐large contests rather than from single‐member districts. We test this proposition by estimating the deter‐minants of minority hiring practices. We find increases in the proportion of black representatives on a city council are positively correlated with the percentage of black police recruits. However, holding constant black representation, the impact of black councilors on municipal hiring is enhanced when councilors are elected at‐large rather than by district.

Date: 2003
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