Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/180301 
Year of Publication: 
2018
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 7039
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
Geographic representation is an important consideration in candidate nominations, even under closed-list proportional representation (PR), and may even matter for distributive policy outcomes. However, since nominations are determined strategically, the causal effects of local representation are difficult to identify. We investigate the relationship between local representation and electoral and distributive politics in the closed-list PR setting of Norway. Exploiting as-good-as-random election outcomes for marginal candidates, we find that parties obtain higher support in subsequent elections in the hometowns of narrowly-elected candidates. This effect appears to be driven by the local candidate appearing at the top of the party list in the next election. However, we find no evidence that representation results in geographically targeted policy benefits going to the candidates’ hometowns.
Subjects: 
distributive politics
representation
voting behavior
JEL: 
D72
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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