Approval Voting Reduces Parochialism

7 Pages Posted: 24 Oct 2001

See all articles by Jonathan Baron

Jonathan Baron

University of Pennsylvania - Department of Psychology

Date Written: October 26, 2001

Abstract

In hypothetical scenarios involving two groups (nations or groups of workers), subjects voted on three proposals: one helped group A (their group), one helped B, and one helped both groups, more than the average of the first two but less than their maximum. When subjects voted for one proposal, most voted for the one that helped group A. When they could approve two proposals, they tended to approve the third proposal as well, and it was more likely to win. Approval voting can reduce the effect of parochialism, a bias toward ones own group, on election outcomes.

Keywords: approval voting, parochialism, cooperation

Suggested Citation

Baron, Jonathan, Approval Voting Reduces Parochialism (October 26, 2001). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=287901 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.287901

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