Balanced Institutional Reform

Dr. Allen HickenUniversity of Michigan

Visiting Researcher, Thammasat University

Institutions Shape:

Incentives

Capabilities

Behavior

Reform InstitutionsNormsCulture

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 ProportionalDecisivenessIdentifiabilityAccountability

RepresentationPowersharing

Stability

Two Trade-offs

Majoritarian Proportional

Local

National

Close ties with local constituentsResponsive to local demands

Close ties with partyResponsive to national demands

Two Trade-offs

Majoritarian Proportional

Local

National

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