Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0

Author-Name: Marcus Drometer
Author-X-Name-First: Marcus
Author-X-Name-Last: Drometer

Author-Name: Johannes Rincke	
Author-X-Name-First: Johannes
Author-X-Name-Last: Rincke

Title: The impact of ballot access restrictions on electoral competition: Evidence from a natural experiment
	
Abstract: Measuring the effect of ballot access restrictions on electoral competition is compli-
cated because the stringency of ballot access regulations cannot be treated as being
exogenous to candidates' entry decisions. This paper exploits the 1968 U.S. Supreme
Court decision to strike down Ohio's ballot access laws as a natural experiment to
overcome the endogeneity problem. The evidence from difference-in-difference esti-
mations suggests that the court decision and the accompanying sharp decrease in
Ohio's petition requirements resulted in major parties facing a signifficant increase
in competition from third party and independent candidates.
Length:  18 pages
Creation-Date:  2008-01
File-URL: http://www.bgpe.de/texte/DP/037_drometer_rinke.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
File-Function: First version, 2008
Number: 037
Classification-JEL: D72, D78
Keywords: Ballot access, petition requirements, electoral competition, natural experiment
Handle: RePEc:bav:wpaper:037_drometer_rinke