Election Timing (Political Economy of Institutions and Decisions) - Hardcover

Smith, Alastair

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521833639 ISBN 13: 9780521833639

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2004

Synopsis

Most parliamentary systems have endogenous election timing, where the Prime Minister is free to call for elections when he or she thinks it's appropriate to do so. Despite the huge advantage one might expect this opportunity creates, Prime Ministers still lose frequently. Alastair Smith proposes an informational theory that relates the time when leaders call for elections to the consequences of their decisions. Smith demonstrates why leaders find it difficult to profit from their ability to call for elections, even when they are popular and face weak opposition.

About this title

Book Description:

Most parliamentary systems have endogenous election timing, a system where the Prime Minister is free to call elections when he or she thinks the time is right. Despite the huge advantage one might expect this creates, Prime Ministers frequently lose. The author proposes an informational theory that explains when leaders call for elections and the consequences of their decisions. The author explains why leaders find it difficult to profit from their ability to call elections when they are popular and the opposition is weak.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0521833639
• ISBN 13: 9780521833639
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 286