Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: One of the defining characteristics of a political party is that it presents to voters a team of candidates who bear its label. Voters use party labels for information about candidate preferences, and candidates build their careers in parties and around party labels. Given the central role of parties in citizen choice and political careers, it seems reasonable to expect legislators to stick to the party labels under which they have won election. Much of the time, in many places, they do; some of the time, however, legislators do not. Party switching occurs often enough to make it likely more than a mere anomaly. Nonetheless, political scientists have tended to view switching as idiosyncratic behavior, perhaps symptomatic of some defect in the body politic but not itself worth of analysis. Switching is much more than this, however, first because it can occur even in the most stable of systems, and second because its importance goes far beyond any utility it has as a diagnostic tool. We argue that taking party switching seriously can help us better understand political parties, party discipline, and legislative party systems. With this in mind, we suggest a theoretical framework for analyzing switching and for using that analysis to leverage other questions of enduring interest to a broad range of political scientists.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: In this paper, we argue that a government enforced shift to mandatory mail voting could lead to lower levels of efficacy and perhaps lower levels of participation, despite the promise of lower costs making it easier to vote. Contrary to previous theories about the costs of voting, specifically related to absentee voting, we argue that when voters are forced to switch to vote-by-mail, as opposed to simply having it as an option, the possibility exists for a backlash against the political system. Indeed, our results suggest that many polling place voters were opposed to the transition to mail balloting and many voters raised questions about government accountability under such a system. Through multivariate regression analysis, we model political efficacy and likelihood of turnout, to determine what impact, if any, a mandatory vote-by-mail system has on the voting public.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Now that internet has become widely available in the Netherlands, some people have taken the step to a broadband connection at home whereas others have not. The goal of this research is to obtain insights into the reasons why people adopt or reject broadband in the residential context. This investigation is done from a user perspective. Using online questionnaires, a longitudinal (2001, 2003, 2005) study was performed. Results show that three features of broadband have been reasons to adopt it over the years: high speed, always on and flat rate. Furthermore, results show that for long the most important threshold was the financial one and paradoxically financial aspects are also a trigger for adoption. This financial bottleneck has largely disappeared, as well as the physical accessibility threshold. Cognitive and technical thresholds have shown less important over the years. What remains are the internet users who are quite satisfied with their current narrowband connection. It is probably hard to convince those people of the usefulness of broadband, unless for example alternatives are no longer available.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper develops a formal model of party switching and specifies the testable hypotheses implied by the model. Innovative features of the model include a focus on the nature and dynamics of cascades in switching. The paper conducts tests of the model in Italy, Spain, and Norway.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper develops a formal model of party switching and specifies the testable hypotheses implied by the model. Innovative features include a focus on the nature and dynamics of cascades in switching. Data come from Italy, Spain, and Norway.