MRes Dissertation: Quantifying substantive representation of ethnic minorities

In August I completed my dissertation for the Master of Research in Advanced Quantitative Methods at the University of Bristol.

Quantifying substantive representation of ethnic minorities in the House of Commons, 2010-2020

Geography and substantive representation of ethnic minorities under single-member plurality electoral rules

Under single-member district electoral systems, geography is paramount. This is particularly so for minority groups, for whom geographic concentration mediates the ability to secure representation. In Britain, some have argued that relative concentration of ethnic minorities has increased their ability to achieve descriptive representation. However, this concentration also dilutes the size of minority groups in most districts. This paper shows how the presence or absence of ethnic minorities in a constituency is one of the most important factors affecting whether an MP will substantively represent ethnic minorities in Parliamentary speeches.