The role of information on the efficiency of democratic representative institutions
Date
2023-03
Authors
Romero Villanueva, Gonzalo
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Quesada, Lucía
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universidad de San Andrés. Departamento de Economía
Abstract
How does information affect Democratic Representative Institutions? I propose a three stage
model of circular spatial competition that captures electoral processes and takes the analysis to
a new level, which is the capability of parliaments or legislatures to generate consensus. These
institutions are understood as technologies that transform the results from electoral processes into
consensus, which is a key feature of democratic systems, and they are affected by an information
factor. Using a simple scenario, I argue that the growth of available information for voters can make
it harder for political parties to represent a broader range of preferences and rise the equilibrium
number of parties, which has a negative impact on consensus. This effect is smaller when politicians
have a preference for consensus. I also explore how voter participation could be understood in this
setup and how information can affect voter turnout by rising the cost of moving through the agenda
circle and potentially rise the equilibrium number of parties. My model provides a framework for
empirical research, allowing for factor calibration in order to test theoretical predictions using real
data. By drawing attention to the complex relationship between information and the functioning of
Democratic Representative Institutions, I expect to contribute to a better understanding of the role
that information plays in democratic systems.
Description
Fil: Romero Villanueva, Gonzalo. Universidad de San Andrés. Departamento de Economía; Argentina.
Keywords
Citation
Romero Villanueva, G. (2023). The role of information on the efficiency of democratic representative institutions. [Tesis de maestría, Universidad de San Andrés. Departamento de Economía]. Repositorio Digital San Andrés. http://hdl.handle.net/10908/23153