balanced institutional reform dr. allen hicken university of michigan visiting researcher, thammasat...
TRANSCRIPT
Balanced Institutional Reform
Dr. Allen HickenUniversity of Michigan
Visiting Researcher, Thammasat University
Institutions Shape:
Incentives
Capabilities
Behavior
Reform InstitutionsNormsCulture
What is the best ____ for Thailand?
Electoral system
System of government
Form of democracy
Type of political party
What is the best ____ for Thailand?
It depends.
Doctor, I have a problem.
3 Questions for Reformers
• What, specifically, is the problems that you are trying to fix?
• What do you think is the source of that problems?
• How would the proposed reform remedy that problem?
Two Trade-offs
Majoritarian ProportionalDecisivenessIdentifiabilityAccountability
RepresentationPowersharing
Stability
Two Trade-offs
Majoritarian Proportional
Local
National
Close ties with local constituentsResponsive to local demands
Close ties with partyResponsive to national demands
Two Trade-offs
Majoritarian Proportional
Local
National
Three Areas of Reform
1. Playing around with the PM
2. Playing around with parties
3. Combatting Corruption
Playing around with the PM
• Directly elected PM
• PM chosen by the parliament but separate survival of Executive and Legislature
• Non-partisan PM
Playing around with the PM
• Directly elected PM Presidentialized PMs
Presidentialized parties
Two-tier party system
No greater stability or discipline in legislature
Playing around with the PM
• Directly elected PM
• PM chosen by the parliament but separate survival of Executive and Legislature
• Non-partisan PM
Three Constraints on PMs
Prime Minister
Voters Legislation Survival Parliament
Playing around with the PM
• Directly elected PM
• PM chosen by the parliament but separate survival of Executive and Legislature
• Non-partisan PM– Usually crisis driven– Usually temporary
Playing around with Parties• Independents or No?– Independents not allowed
– Independents allowed• Often not “independent”• Not any better candidates/MPs• Greater money politics
Playing around with Parties• Independents or No?– Independents not allowed
– Independents allowed
– Parties not allowed• Elections still partisan• Reduction in voting• Less likely to be contested• Less competitive• Incumbent advantage
Combatting Corruption• There is no magic bullet
• Two strong patterns– Clarity of responsibility
– Opportunity to impose accountability
• Associated with less corruption:– Free and competitive elections
– Strong press/freedom of information• Strong and independent anti-corruption agencies
– Modest number of political parties (U-shaped)
– Government stability
Thanks