Presence, Representation, and Impact: How Minority MPs Affect Policy Outcomes. Issue 1 (11th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hänni, Miriam
• Is Part Of: Legislative studies quarterly. Volume 42:Issue 1(2017:Feb.)
• Page Start: 97
• Page End: 130
• Publication Date: 2016-05-11
• 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.12142
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0362-9805

Abstract

Abstract : Many ethnic minorities demand (adequate) descriptive representation in parliament because they expect it to affect the responsiveness of governments towards their demands. However, the mechanism of how minority representatives affect policy outcomes remains unclear. I argue that descriptive representation mainly has an effect if representatives possess additional leverage to influence policy outcomes. The argument is tested with hierarchical time‐series models from 88 minority groups in 47 countries multiethnic democracies. The analysis shows that descriptive representatives are most successful in influencing policy outcomes if they are included in the government, the legislature is powerful, and a group is comparatively large.