Special investigation of the City of Riverdale for the period July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2005

Special investigation of the City of Riverdale for the period July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2005

Special investigation of the City of Mystic for the period January 1, 2006 through January 31, 2007

Special investigation of the City of Mystic for the period January 1, 2006 through January 31, 2007

Audit report on a special investigation of the City of Gravity for the period January 1, 2003 through February 15, 2007

Audit report on a special investigation of the City of Gravity for the period January 1, 2003 through February 15, 2007

Special investigation of the Haverhill Volunteer Fire Department for the period January 1, 2003 through January 29, 2007

Special investigation of the Haverhill Volunteer Fire Department for the period January 1, 2003 through January 29, 2007

Report on a special investigation of the City of Clearfield for the period August 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007

Report on a special investigation of the City of Clearfield for the period August 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007

Report on a special investigation of the Fifth and Eighth Judicial Districts Department of Correctional Services (Districts) for the period January 1, 2003 through June 30, 2006

Report on a special investigation of the Fifth and Eighth Judicial Districts Department of Correctional Services (Districts) for the period January 1, 2003 through June 30, 2006

Special investigation of the Monona County Engineer’s Office for the period January 1, 2004 through April 20, 2007

Special investigation of the Monona County Engineer’s Office for the period January 1, 2004 through April 20, 2007

Setting the rules of the game: The choice of electoral systems in advanced democracies

The origins of electoral systems have received scant attention in the literature. Looking at the history of electoral rules in the advanced world in the last century, this paper shows that the existing wide variation in electoral rules across nations can be traced to the strategic decisions that the current ruling parties, anticipating the coordinating consequences of different electoral regimes, make to maximize their representation according to the following conditions. On the one hand, as long as the electoral arena does not change substantially and the current electoral regime serves the ruling parties well, the latter have no incentives to modify the electoral regime. On the other hand, as soon as the electoral arena changes (due to the entry of new voters or a change in their preferences), the ruling parties will entertain changing the electoral system, depending on two main conditions: the emergence of new parties and the coordinating capacities of the old ruling parties. Accordingly, if the new parties are strong, the old parties shift from plurality/majority rules to proportional representation (PR) only if the latter are locked into a 'non-Duvergerian' equilibrium; i.e. if no old party enjoys a dominant position (the case of most small European states)--conversely, they do not if a Duvergerian equilibrium exists (the case of Great Britain). Similarly, whenever the new entrants are weak, a non-PR system is maintained, regardless of the structure of the old party system (the case of the USA). The paper discusses as well the role of trade and ethnic and religious heterogeneity in the adoption of PR rules.

Special investigation of the City of Rathbun for the period July 1, 2003 through November 30, 2007

Special investigation of the City of Rathbun for the period July 1, 2003 through November 30, 2007

Special investigation of Hardin County Solid Waste Disposal Commission for the period January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2007

Special investigation of Hardin County Solid Waste Disposal Commission for the period January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2007

Special investigation of the City of Postville for the period July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2006

Special investigation of the City of Postville for the period July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2006

Special investigation of the Area XV Regional Planning Commission located in Ottumwa, Iowa for the period July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2006

Special investigation of the Area XV Regional Planning Commission located in Ottumwa, Iowa for the period July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2006

Special investigation of selected accounts at Burlington High School for the period July 1, 2004 through February 16, 2006

Special investigation of selected accounts at Burlington High School for the period July 1, 2004 through February 16, 2006

Special investigation of the City of Mingo for the period September 1, 2002 through June 30, 2006

Special investigation of the City of Mingo for the period September 1, 2002 through June 30, 2006

Special investigation of the City of Center Point Library for the period January 1, 2006 through December 6, 2007

Special investigation of the City of Center Point Library for the period January 1, 2006 through December 6, 2007