Technology
The Influence of Coalition Agreement Length on Government Policy Stability
Quick fact
Research on coalition governance shows that longer coalition agreements are associated with more stable governments and less policy volatility, because they specify policy compromises in detail, reducing the risk of misinterpretation and conflict. For example, in Germany, coalition agreements have grown from about 20 pages in the 1960s to over 170 pages in recent decades, correlating with more stable governments.
Why this is interesting
Why do some coalition governments last for years while others collapse in months? One surprising factor: the length of the written agreement they sign.