You have to pay to play: Candidate and party responses to the high cost of elections in Japan |
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| Institution: | 1. National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Tokyo, Japan;2. Harvard University, United States;1. University of California, Santa Barbara, United States;2. Columbia University, United States;1. London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London WC2AE United Kingdom;2. University of Missouri, Department of Political Science, USA;1. Hirao School of Management, Konan University, 8-33Takamatsucho, Nishinomiya, 663-8204, Japan;2. Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University, 1-7 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, 560-0043, Japan;3. Department of Economics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309-025 USA;4. Faculty of Economics, Tokyo International University, 1-13-1 Matobakita, Kawagoe, Saitama, 350-1197, Japan;5. Faculty of Economics, Konan University, 1-8-9 Okamoto, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, 658-8501, Japan |
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| Abstract: | What effect does the financial cost of running for office have on candidate entry decisions, and does it differ depending on a candidate's motivations for running? We use a regression discontinuity design and panel data analysis to estimate the causal effect of campaign costs on candidate entry in Japan, where the amount of money required as a deposit for ballot access increased periodically to become one of the highest in the world, and a considerable part of campaign costs. We find that candidates from the major office-seeking parties were likely to be replaced after losing the deposit, and that these parties nominated fewer candidates following increases in the deposit amount. However, we find no such deterrent effect for fringe candidates. This finding calls into question the effectiveness of the deposit at fulfilling its supposed purpose, and sheds light on the differences between the financial and strategic coordination incentives that influence the nomination decisions of parties. |
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| Keywords: | Candidate entry Election deposit Japan Regression discontinuity |
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