ON MEASURING PARTY SYSTEM CHANGE: A METHODOLOGICAL CRITIQUE AND A SUGGESTION
In: Comparative political studies: CPS, Band 12, Heft 4, S. 387-403
ISSN: 0010-4140
THIS PAPER ARGUES THAT THE USE OF EXISTING MEASURES OF FRACTIONALIZATION AND CONCENTRATION AS INDICATORS OF PARTY SYSTEM CHANGE OVER TIME MAY RESULT IN MISLEADING FINDINGS. SEVEN INDICATORS ARE TESTED ON A HYPOTHETICAL SET OF DATA AND ALL OF THEM FAIL TO REFLECT TYPICAL PATTERNS OF CHANGE. AN INDICATOR OF AGGREGATE VOLATILITY IS PRESENTED.