Better Politicians: If We Pay, Will They Come?. Issue 2 (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Atkinson, Michael M.; Rogers, Dustin; Olfert, Sara
• Is Part Of: Legislative studies quarterly. Volume 41:Issue 2(2016:May)
• Page Start: 361
• Page End: 391
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Legislative bodies -- Periodicals; Parlement; Procédure législative; Système parlementaire; Étude comparée (Descripteur de forme); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 328
• DOI: 10.1111/lsq.12117
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0362-9805

Abstract

Abstract : While each election provides the Canadian House of Commons with a fresh batch of politicians, no consideration has been given to the question of whether the quality of politicians is improving. Yet improving quality has been the focus of several commissions urging increases in MP compensation. This article addresses the competence and compensation questions by asking whether changes in levels of compensation might make a difference to the educational qualifications of political leaders. We assemble a unique dataset of 1, 291 federal politicians elected to the Canadian House of Commons from 1993 to 2011 and show that prime ministers do have a preference for more highly educated MPs when filling ministerial and other executive positions. Our findings suggest that certain subgroups of MPs, particularly educated women, may be attracted by upward shifts in compensation. We discuss the reasons for these effects and the relative importance of compensation in career decisions.