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Comparing SMD Systems: Japan, South Korea, Germany's Excess Lawyers

Lawyers dominate many national parliaments. This study compares three countries with mixed electoral systems - Japan, South Korea and Germany.

Electoral System Types

  • Single-Member District (SMD) system: Focuses on principal-agent representation logic
  • Proportional Representation (PR): Employs microcosm model for diverse candidate selection

Comparative Findings

Lawyer-legislators are more common in countries primarily using SMD systems, even after accounting for other factors.

Why It Matters

This suggests that electoral system design significantly shapes the occupational profile of legislatures.

Japanese Journal of Political Science
Lawyers and Law Graduates in Parliaments as a Consequence of SMD Electoral Systems: Comparing Japan, South Korea, and Germany. was authored by Devin Joshi. It was published in JJPS in 2020. Find on Google Scholar10.1017/S1468109919000112
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