Voter participation with collusive parties

Abstract

We re-examine the theory of rational voter participation where voting is by two collusive parties enforcing social norms through costly peer punishment. The model nests both the ethical voter model and the pivotal voter model. In the unique mixed strategy equilibrium the advantaged party gets all surplus. When the cost of enforcement of social norms is low and the benefit of winning/nthe election is the same for both parties, the larger party is always advantaged. When instead the enforcement of social norms is costly we have a result reminiscent of Olson, and the smaller party may be advantaged.