Proportional representation and attitudes about politics: results from NewZealand

PR systems often are credited with producing more equitable outcomes betwee n political parties and encouraging wider social group representation than majoritarian systems. Theory suggests that this should instill greater trus t, efficacy, and faith in the political system. We assume that citizens dis advantaged by majoritarian rules (political minorities) will have a relativ ely greater shift toward positive attitudes about democracy following a tra nsition from a majoritarian system to proportional representation. We emplo y panel data from the 1993-1996 New Zealand Election Study (NZES) to test h ypotheses about the effects of electoral system change on attitudes about g overnmental responsiveness, trust in government, and political efficacy. We find that there is a general shift in mass opinion toward more positive at titudes on some measures of efficacy and responsiveness. Political minoriti es display a greater shift toward feelings of efficacy than other voters. ( C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.