scholarly journals Electoral Accountability and Responsive Democracy

2019 ◽  
Vol 130 (627) ◽  
pp. 675-715
Author(s):  
John Duggan ◽  
César Martinelli
Keyword(s):  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Electoral Accountability ◽  
Electoral Incentives ◽  
Voter Preferences ◽  
Ideal Points ◽  
Hidden Actions

Abstract We consider elections with hidden preferences and hidden actions, in which neither voters nor politicians can commit to future choices. When politicians are highly office motivated, they respond by choosing high policies to signal that they are above average, and some below-average politicians must randomise between choosing policies near their ideal points and mimicking above-average politicians by choosing high policies. If voter preferences are increasing, then elections deliver positive outcomes; but if voter preferences are single peaked, then politicians overshoot in the first period. Electoral incentives shift to sanctioning, rather than selection, as office motivation becomes large.

Constituency preferences and MP preferences: The electoral connection

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 619-627
Author(s):  
Danielle Martin ◽  
Simon Hug
Keyword(s):  
Median Voter ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Electoral Rules ◽  
Electoral Connection ◽  
Voter Preferences ◽  
Members Of Parliament ◽  
Representation Systems ◽  
Common Scale ◽  
Ideal Points

The question how voter preferences relate to preferences of representatives under different electoral rules has attracted scholarly attention for some time. Although theoretical work suggests that proportional rule leads to more dispersion of representatives than plurality rule, empirical studies of this nexus have not yet reached a consensus. We argue that this is because they are plagued by serious problems as they rely on measures that differ for both sets of actors. We use behavioral data to estimate ideal points of voters and representatives on a common scale by taking advantage of the high frequency of referendums in Switzerland. We find that members of parliament elected in proportional representation systems are more widely dispersed around the median voter. Probing at what stage this difference in dispersion occurs, we also demonstrate this is the voters’ doing, as it only applies to candidates who are elected.

How the Unorganized Mass Public (Sometimes) Gets Represented in Regulatory Politics

2017 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan M. Miller ◽  
Christopher Witko ◽  
Neal D. Woods
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Expectation ◽  
Regulatory Activity ◽  
Regulatory Enforcement ◽  
Electoral Accountability ◽  
The Public ◽  
Electoral Incentives ◽  
Mass Public ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
The Government ◽  
Regulatory Politics

Many scholars have argued that because consumers are poorly organized, regulatory enforcement will tend to be lax and serve the interests of industry. Considering, however, that elections are one of the main mechanisms by which the public exerts control over policy, surprisingly few studies have examined how electoral incentives may spur the government to regulate vigorously on behalf of consumers. We argue that when the threat of electoral accountability is greater, regulatory activities will serve the interests of the public, even if they impose costs on industry. We test this theoretical expectation by analyzing state regulatory activity in the wake of exogenous storms and natural disasters, which provide us with important theoretical and causal leverage. We find that a more “pro-regulation” electorate and elected chief regulators acting in close proximity to elections are associated with pro-consumer regulatory action.

Benchmarking the Baseline Model

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Laver ◽  
Ernest Sergenti
Keyword(s):  
Policy Preferences ◽  
Policy Space ◽  
Baseline Model ◽  
Policy Positions ◽  
Voter Preferences ◽  
Optimal Representation ◽  
Ideal Points ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Party Policy Positions ◽  
The Ideal

This chapter begins the investigation of multiparty competition using the baseline model specified in Chapter 3 and methods and procedures specified in Chapter 4. The most significant results concern the representativeness of evolved configurations of party policy positions. In symmetric populations, the ideal points of voters are not best represented by a set of (Hunter) parties who compete for their support by trying to find popular policy positions. Instead, voter preferences are better represented by a set of (Aggregator) parties that do not compete with each other on policy at all but instead seek to represent the policy preferences only of their current supporters. This happens because the dynamics of vote-seeking competition in this setting cause parties to set policy positions closer to the center of the policy space than would be needed for optimal representation—while at the same time avoiding the dead center of the space.

An Experimental Study of Electoral Incentives and Institutional Choice

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Woon
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Institutional Choice ◽  
Elicitation Method ◽  
Electoral Accountability ◽  
Electoral Incentives ◽  
Policy Choices ◽  
Expected Payoffs ◽  
The Right

AbstractI investigate the extent to which reputational incentives affect policy choices in the context of a controlled laboratory experiment. In theory, asymmetric information and outcome unobservability undermine electoral delegation by creating incentives for politicians to pander. Under the right conditions, it may be preferable to remove such incentives by removing accountability altogether. The data suggest that subjects playing the role of politicians fail to take advantage of voters even though voters indeed create the predicted electoral incentives, albeit in a weaker form than predicted by the theory. When given the choice of institutions via a novel elicitation method, subjects prefer to retain electoral accountability or to make decisions themselves through direct democracy, even though both institutions yield lower expected payoffs than delegation to unaccountable agents.

The Use of Neuroplastic Principles Affects the Swallow Motor Plan of a Patient in Severe Cognitive Decline: A Case Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (15) ◽  
pp. 79-83
Author(s):  
Ed Bice ◽  
Kristine E. Galek
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Movement Speed ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Verbal Cues ◽  
Motor Plan ◽  
Bolus Size ◽  
The Central Nervous System

Dysphagia is common in patients with dementia. Dysphagia occurs as a result of changes in the sensory and motor function of the swallow (Easterling, 2007). It is known that the central nervous system can undergo experience-dependent plasticity, even in those individuals with dementia (Park & Bischof, 2013). The purpose of this study was to explore whether or not the use of neuroplastic principles would improve the swallow motor plan and produce positive outcomes of a patient in severe cognitive decline. The disordered swallow motor plan was manipulated by focusing on a neuroplastic principles of frequency (repetition), velocity of movement (speed of presentation), reversibility (Use it or Lose it), specificity and adaptation, intensity (bolus size), and salience (Crary & Carnaby-Mann, 2008). After five therapeutic sessions, the patient progressed from holding solids in her mouth with decreased swallow initiation to independently consuming a regular diet with full range of liquids with no oral retention and no verbal cues.

A Systematic Review of User Expectations and Outcomes of Crisis Support Services

Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Kelly Mazzer ◽  
Megan O'Riordan ◽  
Alan Woodward ◽  
Debra Rickwood
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Online Chat ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Personal Crisis ◽  
Crisis Support ◽  
User Expectations ◽  
Behavioural Sciences

Abstract. Background: Crisis support services play an important role in providing free, immediate access to support people in the community experiencing a personal crisis. Recently, services have expanded from telephone to digital modalities including online chat and text message services. This raises the question of what outcomes are being achieved for increasingly diverse service users across different modalities. Aims: This systematic review aimed to determine the expectations and outcomes of users of crisis support services across three modalities (telephone, online chat, and text message/SMS). Method: Online databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Collection) and gray literature were searched for studies measuring expectations and outcomes of crisis support services. Results: A total of 31 studies were included in the review, the majority of which were telephone-based. Similar expectations were found for telephone and online chat modalities, as well as consistently positive outcomes, measured by changes in emotional state, satisfaction, and referral plans. Limitations/Conclusion: There is a paucity of consistent outcome measures across and within modalities and limited research about users of text message/SMS services.

Does Ego-Resilience Impact Friendship Outcomes?

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth B. Lozano ◽  
Mahzad Hojjat ◽  
Judith Sims-Knight
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Ego Resilience ◽  
Maintenance Behaviors ◽  
Received Social Support ◽  
Trait Resilience ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. The present study examined the relationship between resilience and positive outcomes in friendships of young adults. SEM and bootstrapping analyses were performed to test whether positive emotions mediate the relationship between ego-resilience and enhanced friendship outcomes. Findings revealed indirect effects for friendship closeness, maintenance behaviors, and received social support. Our findings demonstrate the importance of positive emotions and its connection with trait resilience in the realm of friendships.

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