Candidate Features and Candidate Selection Patterns in Hungary, 1994–2010. Issue 1 (9th December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Papp, Zsófia
• Is Part Of: International journal of sociology. Volume 48:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 76
• Page End: 93
• Publication Date: 2017-12-09
• Subjects: Candidates -- elections -- Hungary -- parliament; Sociology -- Periodicals; Sociology -- Periodicals; Sociologie -- Périodiques; Sociology; Periodicals; 301.05
• DOI: 10.1080/00207659.2018.1414507
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7659

Abstract

Abstract : Although 25 years have passed since the Hungarian transition of 1989–90, to date, there have been no systematic analyses of candidate characteristics and candidate selection patterns. This article asks: What candidate features do party selectorates value when deciding on candidate nominations from 1994 to 2010? I investigate the candidate selection patterns of Hungarian parties though candidates' placement on the party lists. I use an original data set containing the whole universe of candidates running in democratic elections between 1994 and 2010. I describe the Hungarian candidate scene with regard to electoral and legislative experience, age and gender of the candidates. I apply multilevel linear regressions to obtain the net effect of these characteristics on party list placements. I find first, that parties place more experienced candidates higher on the party lists. Second, selectors punish older candidates by placing them lower on party lists. Third, women also face a disadvantage in list placements: parties place men in better positions on the lists.