The Emergence of Parties: An AgentBased Simulation
Authored by Darren Schreiber
Date Published: 2014-03
DOI: 10.1177/1065912913487258
Sponsors:
No sponsors listed
Platforms:
No platforms listed
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
An agent-based computer simulation demonstrates that results from Downs, Duverger, Riker, and Sundquist can be seen as emergent consequences of five simple rules about iteratively forming coalitions and adjusting policy platforms. The model creates distributions of agents who form coalitions within a political body. By modifying and omitting the basic rules, I compare results from plurality and majority-seeking actors and from policy-seeking, office-seeking, and mixed-strategy coalitions. A set of simple rules implemented by agents with extremely bounded knowledge are sufficient to drive the classic median voter, two-party system, minimum winning coalitions, and party realignment results in a single framework.
Tags
Agent-based model
median voter
party formation
party realignment