New publication | Pre-electoral coalitions and the distribution of political power
Pre-electoral coalitions in Finland often form between parties of similar size and ideology, strategically influencing power distribution and potentially broadening the representation of citizen preferences through increased leadership opportunities for smaller parties and a more dispersed seat distribution. Jaakko Meriläinen, Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics at SSE, and co-authors publish new article in Public Choice.
Pre-electoral coalitions (PECs) in Finland are more likely between parties of similar size and ideology and in elections with greater disproportionality or more parties. Voters tend to punish coalescing parties and strategically allocate personal votes within these coalitions, with PECs serving the purpose of influencing power distribution, ultimately resulting in increased opportunities for smaller parties to gain leadership positions and a more dispersed distribution of seats, potentially broadening the representation of citizens' policy preferences.
