Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

submittedVersion

Publication Date

8-2021

Abstract

We study the impact of rank-based decision-making in a multi-member plurality electoral system by examining the decisions of Philippine legislative councilors to run for and win higher office. By focusing on multi-member plurality elections, we identify the effect of rank amongst politicians that hold the same office and received a similar number of votes. To identify the causal effect of rank, we conduct a close-elections RD at the village, municipality, and province levels. Our main result is the first place effect: incumbent first placers are 5–9% (1–4%) more likely to run (win) in future elections than incumbent second placers. The first place effect is unique among rank effects: subsequent rank comparisons yield substantially weaker or insignificant results. Further evidence suggests that a variety of potential mechanisms—party alignment, strategic voting, differential levels of media exposure or the better performance of first placers—do not seem to explain our results. These results improve our understanding of the variety of ways rank effects interact with electoral systems.

Keywords

Rank effect, Multi-member plurality, Political promotion, Regression discontinuity design, The Philippines

Discipline

Asian Studies | Political Science

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

Journal of Public Economics

Volume

200

First Page

1

Last Page

19

ISSN

0047-2727

Identifier

10.1016/j.jpubeco.2021.104455

Publisher

Elsevier

Embargo Period

7-15-2021

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2021.104455

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