Ben is joined by John Carey to discuss how you design an electoral system for a new democracy – what factors are most important to producing a healthy and sustainable democracy, and how might those requirements change over time?
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Thanks Ben, one of my favourite subjects.
I recently finished reading a book about the shortfalls of economics and its central message was most economics is based on a “purity” approach, where the professors who mattered in shaping economic theory were more concerned with mathematical models that bared no relationship to the real world (i.e. the underlying assumption being that every person was selfishly motivated and a homo rationalist).
I often feel that psephology tends to be like minded. That is not intended to be a dig at people here, but it is an observation that I have noted from past discussions on this site. We need to start with a definitive goal that everyone can get behind, not a purist model. What do we want from Democracy and what “system” can best deliver this goal. I have my own views, but that is only one view. Personally I would like to see a long term “Citizen Jury” process set up that can go through all the options and take different expert advice about the pros and cons of the different models considered. At the end the Citizen Jury can make a recommendation to the Parliament of the day and ideally a referendum for a wider citizen vote.
I am pragmatic enough to realise there is no one “perfect” system and the sooner we let go of this expectation the quicker we might be able to coalesce around a better system. Obviously I don believe the current system is the best system.
System
1.multi preferential
2. Robson rotation
3. Vote formal to extent voters intention can be identified
4. Side by side have pr based system…list to balance the multiple preferential system
5. Set quota to participate in 4 above