“Electing An Electoral System: Change and Persistence in Electoral Rules.” With Ronald Rogowski . Under revision (September 2005).

Abstract

We propose a unifying framework to examine simultaneously the determinants and the consequences of electoral systems. We argue that electoral systems are self-sustaining, since PR (majoritarian) systems systematically lead to higher socio-economic equality (inequality), and greater equality (inequality) in turn supports PR (majoritarian) systems. In other words, there exists a two-way reinforcing force of causality that runs back and forth between PR (majoritarian) systems and socio-economic equality (inequality), and this self-reinforcing cycle is sustained by a variety of political and economic mechanisms. The self-reinforcing cycle proposed in this study provides a previously unnoticed account for institutional stability, and significantly enriches our understanding of electoral systems’ short-term effects and their long-term evolutional dynamics.