1997/08/01 by Jürgen Krämer, Hans Rattinger · 1 citation
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Social Sciences · #Computer science #Econometrics #Economic Policies and Impacts #Economics #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Epistemology #Game Theory and Voting Systems #Law #Mathematical economics #Philosophy #Political science #Politics #Positive economics #Predictive power #Voting
paper · doi:10.1023/a:1006866319508
published in European Journal of Political Research 32(1), 1-29 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 1997/08/01 · openalex created_date 2022/05/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
Abstract In several recent studies George Rabinowitz and his co–authors challenge the ‘classical’ spatial model of issue voting, the proximity model, by introducing a directional model. In this article we examine whether different measurement of perceived issue positions of candidates or parties leads to diverging judgments about the predictive power of the directional model (which is claimed to be empirically superior), as compared to the proximity model, using data from the USA and Germany. The results demonstrate that the measurement preferred by Rabinowitz et al. tends to bias empirical findings in favour of directional theory. If we use a more plausible operational definition of issue positions of candidates and parties the directional model in both countries fails to turn out superior.