TY - JOUR
T1 - The Value of a Vote
T2 - Malapportionment in Comparative Perspective
AU - Samuels, David
AU - Snyder, Richard
PY - 2001/10
Y1 - 2001/10
N2 - Comparative studies of electoral institutions have largely neglected a fundamental characteristic of most of the world's electoral systems: malapportionment. This article provides a method for measuring malapportionment in different types of electoral systems, calculates levels of malapportionment in seventy-eight countries, and employs statistical analysis to explore the correlates of malapportionment in both upper and lower chambers. The analysis shows that the use of single-member districts is associated with higher levels of malapportionment in lower chambers and that federalism and country size account for variation in malapportionment in upper chambers. Furthermore, African and especially Latin American countries tend to have electoral systems that are highly malapportioned. The article concludes by proposing a broad, comparative research agenda that focuses on the origins, evolution and consequences of malapportionment.
AB - Comparative studies of electoral institutions have largely neglected a fundamental characteristic of most of the world's electoral systems: malapportionment. This article provides a method for measuring malapportionment in different types of electoral systems, calculates levels of malapportionment in seventy-eight countries, and employs statistical analysis to explore the correlates of malapportionment in both upper and lower chambers. The analysis shows that the use of single-member districts is associated with higher levels of malapportionment in lower chambers and that federalism and country size account for variation in malapportionment in upper chambers. Furthermore, African and especially Latin American countries tend to have electoral systems that are highly malapportioned. The article concludes by proposing a broad, comparative research agenda that focuses on the origins, evolution and consequences of malapportionment.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035642666&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035642666&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0007123401000254
DO - 10.1017/S0007123401000254
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0035642666
SN - 0007-1234
VL - 31
SP - 651
EP - 671
JO - British Journal of Political Science
JF - British Journal of Political Science
IS - 4
ER -