Rational Choice Theories of Voting

This lecture was given in PS 240 on 10/6 and continued on 10/8.

Possible exam question

1. Explain the "rational choice theory of voting"

Lecture Material

We covered...

Each potential outcome has a benefit and a cost ( Utility = Benefits - costs ) If the costs of an action outweigh the benefits of that same action, a person will not do that thing. -So, with voting...if the costs of voting outweigh the benefits of voting, it is irrational to vote

Anthony Downs' An Economic Theory of Democracy -Rational action: to proceed in such a way to use up the lease scarce resources possible per unit of desired output to the best knowledge of the individual (minimizing use of scarce resources, maximizing benefits) -If costs outweigh benefits, the choice is irrational -Restricts rational choice theory to economic and political motivations -"D term" is the civic duty to vote (reduces costs of voting, does not impact how people vote, rather if they vote at all) -So now.... Utility = Benefits - costs + D

Standards of Rationality:

-Able to make a decision if presented with options -Rank order of preferences -Transitive preferences -Choose most preferred option -Same decisions made time and time again

Rational choice theory-issues with disproving it -one can change the inputs to get the right explanation

possible Solutions to rational choice theory:

-No cost of voting <- sort of untrue, voting is costless, registering can add up though.

-Cost of voting prohibitive <- no evidence of people suffereing from not voting

-Save democracy (long-term cost) <- again, no evidence

-Selective benefits ("good" feeling from voting, civic duty, solidarity, expression of opinion)<- inconsistent with Downs, he believe rational choice only applied to economical and political reasoning and that psychological/emotional reasoning do not come into play.

Strong partisans participate at a much higher level.