Dados is one of the most widely-read social sciences journals in Latin America. Created in 1966, it publishes innovative works, originating from academic research, by Brazilian and foreign authors. Edited by IESP-UERJ, it aims to reconcile scientific rigor and academic excellence with an emphasis on public debate based on the analysis of substantive issues of society and politics.
Dados vol. 55 n. 4 Rio de Janeiro out./dez. 2012
Abstract
Do Brazil's political parties matter in elections? The article focuses on this problem by analyzing whether a mayor's election influences his party's electoral performance in the same city. A regression discontinuity model (RDM) was used to identify the causal effect of mayors on their party's electoral performance in elections to National and State Deputies. The findings suggest that a mayor's election (even by a difference of only 1%) should increase the votes for the same party in the elections to both National and State Deputy. This result is interpreted as evidence of intra-partisan linkage, whereby mayors act systematically to help elect National and State Deputies from their own parties.
Keywords: political parties, elections, party organization, decentralization, Federalism
DOI: 10.1590/S0011-52582012000400005
Intra-partisan linkage and electoral performance in Brazil
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