Coalition Formation Game

The Game

• How do party goals affect coalition formation?

Let’s try it!

• We play several rounds of coalition formation
• Each round: new (randomly drawn) party positions & election results

Rules of the Game

• Form \(x\) Groups ➜ Parties

• It’s the day after election and a new coalition has to be formed

• What’s up for grabs?

  • 1 Head of Government

  • 6 Ministerial Posts

  • Governments’ policy position

Gameplay

• Preparation

  1. Each party (secretly) draws a goal (policy, office, or combined)

  2. Random draw of party positions and election results here

• Gameplay

  1. Formateur (party with most seats) makes first proposal

  2. Parties take turns (in order of their seat-shares) in answering proposals or propose alternatives

  3. Parties with joined 50+X seat-share can agree on a coalition

How to win?

• Head of Government always grants 1Point

Office- and Policy-Points depend on your party goal:

• Office-seeking: 1 point per ministerial office

• Policy-seeking: 6 - |coalition position - party position|

• Combined: \(\frac{Office Points + Policy Points}{2}\)