Term limits and electoral accountability

•Voters hold politicians accountable through periodic elections.•We show that term limits can nevertheless be in the interest of voters.•Term limits induce politicians to choose policies closer to their own preferences.•Such “truthful” behavior in turn results in better screening of incumbents.•We characterize when two-term or longer term limits are optimal for voters.

Periodic elections are the main instrument through which voters can hold politicians accountable. From this perspective term limits, which restrict voters' ability to reward politicians with re-election, appear counterproductive. We show that despite the disciplining effect of elections, term limits can be ex-ante welfare improving from the perspective of voters. By reducing the value of holding office, term limits can induce politicians to implement policies that are closer to their private preferences. Such “truthful” behavior by incumbents in turn results in better screening of incumbents. We characterize under which circumstances two-term or even longer term limits are the optimal institution for voters.