Balanced Institutional Reform
Dr. Allen Hicken
University of Michigan
Visiting Researcher, Thammasat University
Institutions Shape:
Incentives
Capabilities
Behavior
Reform
Culture
Norms
Institutions
What is the best ____ for Thailand?
Electoral system
System of government
Form of democracy
Type of political party
What is the best ____ for Thailand?
It depends.
Doctor, I have a problem.
3 Questions for Reformers
• What, specifically, is the problems that you are
trying to fix?
• What do you think is the source of that
problems?
• How would the proposed reform remedy that
problem?
Two Trade-offs
Majoritarian
Decisiveness
Identifiability
Accountability
Proportional
Representation
Powersharing
Stability
Two Trade-offs
National
Close ties with party
Responsive to national demands
Majoritarian
Proportional
Local
Close ties with local constituents
Responsive to local demands
Two Trade-offs
National
Majoritarian
Proportional
Local
Three Areas of Reform
1. Playing around with the PM
2. Playing around with parties
3. Combatting Corruption
Playing around with the PM
• Directly elected PM
• PM chosen by the parliament but separate
survival of Executive and Legislature
• Non-partisan PM
Playing around with the PM
• Directly elected PM
 Presidentialized PMs
 Presidentialized parties
 Two-tier party system
 No greater stability or discipline in legislature
Playing around with the PM
• Directly elected PM
• PM chosen by the parliament but separate
survival of Executive and Legislature
• Non-partisan PM
Three Constraints on PMs
Prime Minister
Voters
Legislation
Survival
Parliament
Playing around with the PM
• Directly elected PM
• PM chosen by the parliament but separate
survival of Executive and Legislature
• Non-partisan PM
– Usually crisis driven
– Usually temporary
Playing around with Parties
• Independents or No?
– Independents not allowed
– Independents allowed
• Often not “independent”
• Not any better candidates/MPs
• Greater money politics
Playing around with Parties
• Independents or No?
– Independents not allowed
– Independents allowed
– Parties not allowed
•
•
•
•
•
Elections still partisan
Reduction in voting
Less likely to be contested
Less competitive
Incumbent advantage
Combatting Corruption
• There is no magic bullet
• Two strong patterns
– Clarity of responsibility
– Opportunity to impose accountability
• Associated with less corruption:
– Free and competitive elections
– Strong press/freedom of information
• Strong and independent anti-corruption agencies
– Modest number of political parties (U-shaped)
– Government stability
Thanks