Moderating Political Extremism: Single Round vs Runoff Elections under Plurality Rule

Guido Tabellini, Massimo Bordignon () and Tommaso Nannicini

No 10323, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We compare single round vs runoff elections under plurality rule, allowing for partly endogenous party formation. Under runoff elections, the number of political candidates is larger, but the influence of extremist voters on equilibrium policy and hence policy volatility is smaller, because the bargaining power of the political extremes is reduced compared to single round elections. The predictions on the number of candidates and on policy volatility are confirmed by evidence from a regression discontinuity design in Italy, where cities above 15,000 inhabitants elect the mayor with a runoff system, while those below hold single round elections.

Keywords: Electoral rules; Policy volatility; Regression discontinuity design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C14 D72 H72 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cdm and nep-pol
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Moderating Political Extremism: Single Round vs Runoff Elections under Plurality Rule (2013)
Working Paper: Moderating Political Extremism: Single Round vs Runoff Elections under Plurality Rule (2009)
Working Paper: Moderating Political Extremism: Single Round vs Runoff Elections under Plurality Rule (2009)
Working Paper: Moderating Political Extremism: Single Round vs Runoff Elections under Plurality Rule (2009)
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