If the effective number of parties is high, what does this indicate about party competition?

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Multiple Choice

If the effective number of parties is high, what does this indicate about party competition?

The idea being tested is the effective number of parties as a measure of how competitive party politics are. When this number is high, votes are spread across many parties that each have a noticeable share, so there’s greater fragmentation and more parties sharing influence. That signals multiparty competition and deals, coalitions, and no single party dominates the vote. If a single party clearly leads, the effective number of parties is lower because the vote is concentrated. Two-party systems can yield moderate ENP values, not a high one. Turnout isn’t determined by ENP, so a high ENP doesn’t guarantee higher or lower turnout. So the best description of a high ENP is greater fragmentation and more parties sharing votes.

The idea being tested is the effective number of parties as a measure of how competitive party politics are. When this number is high, votes are spread across many parties that each have a noticeable share, so there’s greater fragmentation and more parties sharing influence. That signals multiparty competition and deals, coalitions, and no single party dominates the vote. If a single party clearly leads, the effective number of parties is lower because the vote is concentrated. Two-party systems can yield moderate ENP values, not a high one. Turnout isn’t determined by ENP, so a high ENP doesn’t guarantee higher or lower turnout. So the best description of a high ENP is greater fragmentation and more parties sharing votes.

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