Showdown in Schönau: a contest case study

Dijkstra, Bouwe R.; Graichen, Patrick R.

Abstract

This chapter analyzes a referendum campaign as a case study of a contest. The referendum, held in 1996 in the small German town of Schönau, led to the replacement of the conventional electricity supplier by a firm founded by the local environmentalists. We discuss both qualitative aspects (activities, arguments and strategies of the environmentalists, the electricity firm and its local allies) and quantitative aspects (lobbying effectiveness, stakes, effort and success probability). We identify voter groups more inclined to vote one way or the other and factors that contributed to the environmentalists’ victory. Finally, we discuss modeling implications.

Citation

Dijkstra, B. R., & Graichen, P. R. (in press). Showdown in Schönau: a contest case study. In W. Buchholz, & D. T. Rübbelke (Eds.), The theory of externalities and public goods: essays in memory of Richard C. Cornes (299-326). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49442-5_15

• Acceptance Date: Jul 27, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Mar 21, 2017
• Deposit Date: Dec 18, 2017
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 299-326
• Book Title: The theory of externalities and public goods: essays in memory of Richard C. Cornes
• ISBN: 9783319494418
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49442-5_15
• Keywords: Referendum; Political campaign; Rent seeking
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/851384
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-49442-5_15
• Related Public URLs: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-49442-5
• Contract Date: Dec 15, 2017