Voting behaviour in Indonesia: Impact of information and performance (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 1075)
An overview of the literature on how information about performance in service delivery impacts on the electability of incumbents
Abstract
Query
Does information provided to voters about the performance of subnational executives and/or parliaments in public service delivery impact on the electability of the incumbent? Do voters choose candidates for subnational executive and legislative positions on the basis of performance or anticipated performance in relation to public service delivery? What factors are significant?
Overview
This report provides an overview of the literature on how information about performance in service delivery impacts on the electability of incumbents, looking first at a diverse range of country case studies, and then looking at this issue in the Indonesian context. It also looks at whether voters in Indonesia choose candidates for subnational executive and legislative positions on the basis of performance or anticipated performance in relation to public service delivery. Other factors that influence voting behaviour in Indonesia are also considered.
The literature is divided on the impact of information about performance in service delivery on voting behaviour. While some authors find that performance information has an impact on voter behaviour, others find that it has no impact on the reelection of incumbents. The literature on the impact of performance in service delivery on voting behaviour in Indonesia is also divergent.
Citation
Strachan, A.L. Voting behaviour in Indonesia: Impact of information and performance (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 1075). Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (2014) 7 pp.
Links