Votes from Seats

Logical Models of Electoral Systems

Rein Taagepera author Matthew S Shugart author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:6th Oct '17

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Votes from Seats cover

Four laws of party seats and votes are constructed by logic and tested, using physics-like approaches which are rare in social sciences.

This book is for students of electoral and party systems, those interested in institutional reform, and those yearning for a more scientific social science. Four basic laws of party seats and votes are constructed by logic and tested with data. The physics-like approaches used could advance other social science topics.Take the number of seats in a representative assembly and the number of seats in districts through which this assembly is elected. From just these two numbers, the authors of Votes from Seats show that it is possible to deduce the number of parties in the assembly and in the electorate, as well as the size of the largest party. Inside parties, the vote distributions of individual candidates likewise follow predictable patterns. Four laws of party seats and votes are constructed by logic and tested, using scientific approaches rare in social sciences. Both complex and simple electoral systems are covered, and the book offers a set of 'best practices' for electoral system design. The ability to predict so much from so little, and to apply to countries worldwide, is an advance in the systematic analysis of a core institutional feature found in any democracy, and points the way towards making social sciences more predictive.

'Set against today's emotionally charged issues of Russian misinformation attacks seeking to manipulate the 2016 and subsequent election cycles, and the Gerrymandering case currently in front of the US Supreme court, Votes from Seats: Logical Models of Electoral Systems is a timely and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library Contemporary Political Science collections in general, and Electoral Systems supplemental studies lists in particular.' James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review

ISBN: 9781108404266

Dimensions: 228mm x 152mm x 20mm

Weight: 530g

360 pages