The Citizen-Candidate Model with Imperfect Policy Control
9 Pages Posted: 29 Aug 2012
There are 2 versions of this paper
The Citizen-Candidate Model with Imperfect Policy Control
The Citizen-Candidate Model with Imperfect Policy Control
Date Written: July 31, 2012
Abstract
We examine the two-candidate equilibria of the citizen-candidate model when the implemented policy arises from a compromise between the government and an unelected external power. We show that the equilibria of this model differ significantly from the original: the distance between the candidates’ policies, both ideal and implemented, remains strictly above a threshold. Thus, the median voters’ ideal policy may not obtain in contested elections if policy control is imperfect, even when the cost of running as a candidate is arbitrarily small.
Keywords: elections, polarization, strategic delegation, bureaucracy, foreign influence
JEL Classification: D720, D780, H110
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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