Politicians motivation and electoral accountability Ferdinando Colombo

Elections discipline and select politicians. When politicians di¤er in their motivation, these two roles of elections are somehow complementary: the in-troduction of a better motivated politician makes it more important for the citizens to select such type of politician, and this in turn disciplines the other types of politicians. However, when politicians also di¤er in their competence, the two roles of elections become somehow substitute: the introduction of a more competent politician makes it more important for the citizens to select such type of politician, but this in turn decreases the incentive for less compe-tent politicians to act in the interest of the society. Elections need not be the best way of controlling politicians, and they may even decrease social welfare