Buying Local Votes: The Effect of Individual Campaign Spending Under a Semi-Open PR System in the Belgian Local Elections

G.-J. Put, B. Maddens, J. Smulders

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This article analyses the effect of campaign spending on the individual result of party candidates in the Belgian local elections. An analysis of data concerning the 2012 local elections in the Flemish region shows that candidates who spend more in absolute terms or outspend their rivals (at the list and the municipality level) obtain a better result, even though the size of the effect is small. Contrary to what was found for national elections, there are indications that spending affects the odds of obtaining a seat in the local council. The spending effect tends to be weaker for candidates holding an executive office in the municipality.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)137-155
JournalLocal Government Studies
Volume41
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

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