Economics
How Pre-Electoral Coalitions Shape Post-Election Bargaining Power
Quick fact
Parties that form a pre-electoral coalition often commit to governing together before the election, and this commitment can paradoxically weaken their post-election bargaining leverage, because exiting the coalition becomes costly and the coalition partners can be 'held hostage' by their pre-election promises.
Why this is interesting
You might think that in an election the biggest party always ends up with the most power. But sometimes, parties that lost the vote end up calling the shots. Why?