Coleson Weir Presents Electoral Redistricting Research at Notre Dame

Electoral redistricting directly shapes political representation and local economic performance by altering demographic boundaries and institutional incentives. Coleson Weir, a PhD candidate in economics, presented findings on how boundary changes influence public outcomes using India’s 2008 Delimitation as a natural experiment, according to the Liu Institute’s South Asia Group at the University of Notre Dame.

Demographic Shifts and Women’s Political Representation

Redistricting-induced demographic changes reduce women’s political candidacy and electoral success, largely through party nomination decisions. Drawing on extensive census and election data, the research demonstrates that when constituency boundaries shift, political parties adjust their candidate selections in ways that disproportionately disadvantage women running for office.

Changes in constituency reservation status also alter incumbent politicians’ reelection prospects. However, these boundary adjustments generate positive spillover effects on women’s candidacy in subsequent electoral cycles, indicating that institutional disruptions can create delayed pathways for future political participation.

Local Economic Development and Public Provision Consequences

Institutional design choices extend beyond legislative halls into municipal and regional economies. Weir’s analysis shows that demographic changes triggered by redistricting correlate with slower growth in local school provision and reduced nighttime economic activity, a standard proxy for local economic output and development.

These findings illustrate how administrative boundary rewrites produce tangible economic friction alongside gendered political effects. Public infrastructure investments and educational services face delays as communities adjust to newly drawn constituency lines.

Background on the Research and Presenter

Coleson Weir is a Wilmington, Delaware native focusing on development and political economy. He serves as a PhD fellow in the Kellogg Institute for International Studies and an affiliate of the Building Inclusive Growth (BIG) Lab at Notre Dame.

Before beginning his doctoral studies at Notre Dame, Weir earned an H.B.S. in Mathematics and Economics and an M.S. in Economics and Applied Econometrics magna cum laude from the University of Delaware. During his undergraduate and master’s studies, he worked as a research assistant in the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

Frequently Asked Questions

What data sources were used in the redistricting study?

The research relies on comprehensive demographic census records and historical election data to track changes in political outcomes and public service provision following boundary shifts.

What is India’s 2008 Delimitation?

The 2008 Delimitation was a major nationwide redrawing of parliamentary and assembly constituency boundaries across India based on population figures from the 2001 census, designed to equalize voter representation across districts.

Who sponsored the academic seminar?

The Liu Institute’s South Asia Group sponsored the presentation as part of its ongoing academic seminar series examining regional political economy and development.