Strategic voting in proportional representation systems: evidence from a natural experiment

Lago Peñas, Ignacio

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1354068810389638

Strategic voting in proportional representation systems: evidence from a natural experiment

Citation

Lago I. Strategic voting in proportional representation systems: evidence from a natural experiment. Party Politics. 2011 Mar 23;18(5):653-65. DOI: 10.1177/1354068810389638

Abstract

Relying on data from a natural experiment in Spain, I produce an unbiased estimate of the extent to which strategic voting occurs in multi-member districts. I show that voters have fully adapted to the different incentives provided by distinctive electoral systems in Spain since the first election and also that they behave strategically only when the opportunity to do so is present. That is, contamination effects do not seem to exist when voting strategically.