Ballot structure and political selection. Evidence from changes in electoral rules

Erasmo Papagni, Anna Laura Baraldi and Maria Rosaria Alfano

Journal of Comparative Economics, 2023, vol. 51, issue 1, 324-347

Abstract: This paper studies the effect of different ballot structures in proportional representation systems on the educational attainment of elected politicians as a proxy for their “ability”. By exploiting the Italian electoral reform that switched from open to blocked lists of candidates, the difference-in-differences analysis shows that the reform lowered the educational attainment of national politicians compared to the counterfactual (regional politicians). The dynamic impact of the reform is persistent over time, and it is robust to several concerns. The estimates account for the changes in the party system due to the “Clean hands” judicial inquiry against political corruption that began in 1992. The voters’ choice of better politicians than political parties seems to be the most likely mechanism behind the results.

Keywords: Ballot structure; Preference vote; Politicians’ quality; Human capital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C21 D72 J24 K16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jcecon:v:51:y:2023:i:1:p:324-347

DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2022.10.001

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