Does Proportional Representation Foster Closer Congruence Between Citizens and Policy Makers?

TLDR

PR has two contradictory effects: it increases party fragmentation and voter–party distance, yet it also raises coalition likelihood, pulling governments toward the center and narrowing voter–government distance. The study evaluates whether proportional representation aligns citizen views more closely with government positions. Using the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems dataset, the authors compare respondents’ self‑placed Left‑Right positions with cabinet parties’ positions across 31 election studies. The opposing effects cancel, leaving no net impact of proportional representation on citizen–government congruence, as confirmed by the data.

Abstract

This article assesses the claim that proportional representation (PR) fosters a closer correspondence between the views of citizens and the positions of the government. The study uses the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems data set and compares respondents’ self-placements on a Left-Right scale with placements of cabinet parties’ locations in 31 election studies. The authors argue that PR has two contradictory consequences. On one hand, PR leads to more parties and more choice for voters; but these parties are less centrist, and this increases the overall distance between voters and parties. On the other hand, PR increases the likelihood of coalition governments; this pulls the government toward the center of the policy spectrum and reduces the distance between the government and voters. These two contradictory effects of PR wash out, and the net overall impact of PR on congruence is nil. The data support the authors’ interpretation.