On 3.7.2012, at 3.39, Michael Ossipoff wrote:

> > Yes, even in that small district, d'Hondt's bias will of course make things 
> > worse for small parties. But d'Hond't effect will be less in the small 
> > district, even as the small district problem makes things worse, in its own 
> > way, for small parties.
> 
> You said:
>  
> I simply summed up the expected D'Hondt biases of the multiple districts. The 
> biases of small districts may easily sum up to multiple seats per party (= 
> higher than with one large district).
> 
>  
> [endquote]
>  
> You're using "bias" with a different definition that its usual definition.

I used word "bias" in its general English meaning, in this case referring to 
how D'Hondt favours large parties.

> You said:
> ,
>  splitting the districts in several small districts is probably strategically 
> even better for them.
> [endquote]
>  
> Not if you're judging the benefit to them in terms of their s/v as compared 
> to other parties' s/v.

If the party leaders are allowed to decide between getting nice s/v values or 
getting more seats, I guess they will choose the latter.

> In a small district, very small parties will be excluded, who wouldn't be 
> excluded in an at-large allocation. But the big party will get more seats in 
> the at-large allocation too.

Do you have an example (or a definition) where (in D'Hondt) large parties are 
likely to get more seats when a country is divided in larger districts?

Juho




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