Past research on mixed systems has been divided over their effects on legislative behavior. Some emphasize the co-existence of partisan and individualistic types of legislators resulting form the mix of two distinct (pure) electoral incentive structures. Others point to contamination effects resulting in unique and uniform behavioral incentives as well. In light of this debate, this paper asks about the existence and logic of pork barrel politics in the German 17th Bundestag. On the basis of comprehensive data on all legislators, their behaviors and legislative achievements in serving their districts it explores for the electoral sources of pork compared to individual factors such as localness that might explain legislators special concerns for their districts.
