Campaign finance in the 2017 chamber of deputies elections in Chile: estimation of explanatory factors

Abstract

In 2017 the new proportional system made its first appearance for the legislative elections in Chile, along with the new rules for campaign financing. Three linear regression models are proposed taking campaign expenditure, contributions from parties, and self-funding as dependent variables, and
estimating the effects of incumbency, population density, turn-out in the last election, coalition and sex. Incumbents are more prone to expenditure across each coalition, and Chile Vamos spends markedly more than its competitors.
Additionally, candidates from Nueva Mayoría depended more on contributions from their parties in comparison to other coalitions. Population density
has no effect, although turn-out in the last election has a positive effect on selffunding; women spent slightly less than men, and less from their own income, although gender is not significant for party financing.