Parliamentary downsizing and legislative behaviour. Evidence from Italy

Legislative downsizing is a rare and often contentious institutional reform with potential effects on the selection and behaviour of members of parliament. This article examines the effects of the 2022 reduction in the size of the Italian parliament, analysing how this reform has impacted MPs’ behaviour across three dimensions: activism, specialisation, and constituency orientation. Drawing on a novel dataset covering two years of parliamentary activities in the legislative terms before and after the reform, the findings indicate that MPs’ legislative activism increased slightly, absenteeism rates remained unchanged, and constituency focus declined. Contrary to expectations that a smaller parliament would foster efficiency and accountability, the changes observed are incremental rather than transformative. These results contribute to broader debates on the effects of institutional reforms on legislative behaviour and representation.