PARTY POLICY AND CABINET PORTFOLIOS IN JAPAN, 1996

This research note report the results of an expert survey of party pol icy positions and the relative importance of different cabinet portfol ios in Japan at the time of the 1996 general election. The survey repl icates earlier expert surveys conducted in a wide range of democratic systems by Laver and Hunt (1992), but uses a survey form adapted to th e specific Japanese context, translated into Japanese, and administere d from a Japanese academic institution. The results provide raw data t hat can be used as input to a range of different models of party compe tition and government formation.