Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/130792 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 778
Publisher: 
Queen Mary University of London, School of Economics and Finance, London
Abstract: 
The rational-voter model is often criticized on the grounds that two of its central predictions (the paradox of voting and Duverger's Law) are at odds with reality. Recent theoretical advances suggest that these empirically unsound predictions might be an artifact of an (arguably unrealistic) assumption: the absence of aggregate uncertainty about the distribution of preferences in the electorate. In this paper, we propose direct empirical evidence of the effect of aggregate uncertainty in multicandidate elections. Adopting a theory-based experimental approach, we explore whether aggregate uncertainty indeed favors the emergence of non-Duverger's law equilibria in plurality elections. Our experimental results support the main theoretical predictions: sincere voting is a predominant strategy under aggregate uncertainty, whereas without aggregate uncertainty, voters massively coordinate their votes behind one candidate, who wins almost surely.
Subjects: 
Rational voter model
Multicandidate elections
Plurality
Aggregate
JEL: 
C92
D70
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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