Difference between revisions of "Rational Choice Theories of Voting"
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| − | This lecture was given in [[PS 240]] on | + | This lecture was given in [[PS 240]] on October 6th and continued on October 8th. |
| − | + | ==Possible exam question== | |
| − | + | *Explain the "rational choice theory of voting" | |
| − | + | *Discuss the five requirements of rational choice and the assumptions inherent within. | |
| − | + | ==Lecture Material== | |
| + | ===Cost and Benefit=== | ||
| + | Each potential outcome has a benefit and a cost. Utility, the difference between choices, is equal to the benefits minus the cost. If the costs of an action outweigh the benefits of that same action, a person will not do that thing. If the costs of voting outweigh the benefits of voting, it is irrational to vote | ||
| − | + | ===Anthony Downs' ''An Economic Theory of Democracy''=== | |
| − | If | + | *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 | |
| + | *Because every action has a benefit and a cost, in order to determine the best decision, one would choose the action with the highest net benefit | ||
| + | *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) | ||
| + | *According to this theory, 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 | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | + | ===Assumptions of Rational Choice=== | |
| + | *People know what they want | ||
| + | *People understand the implications of the outcomes | ||
| + | *People apply the same criteria over time | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| + | ===Rational Choice Theory=== | ||
| + | There are several Issues disproving it as one can change the inputs to get the right explanation and therefore it can never be "wrong." | ||
| − | + | ===Possible Solutions to rational choice theory=== | |
| − | + | *No cost of voting (Partially untrue, voting is costless, although registering can add up.) | |
| + | *Cost of voting prohibitive (There is no evidence of people suffering from not voting.) | ||
| + | *Save democracy (long-term cost) (No evidence) | ||
| + | *Selective benefits, a "good" feeling from voting, civic duty, solidarity, expression of opinion (This is 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.=== | ||
| − | |||
| + | ===Parties are Essential=== | ||
| + | * They make it easier for voters by providing information shortcut, lowering the cost of voting, learning about candidates | ||
| + | * They have no social aims (in real ideology in Downsian view). | ||
| + | *They are economic animals seeking power/control. Therefore parties must respond to voter preferences and provide a measure of expected utility (what you’ll get if they win) | ||
| + | *Overtime, two distinct but relatively centric parties make modest changes to maintain stability | ||
| + | *Party in power tends to not shift as much | ||
| + | *“Voters” always changing, people come of age, die, thus parties change to accommodate new makeup of preferences | ||
| + | *Group of people who consistently don’t vote lay between ideological positions of parties. | ||
| + | *Always irrational for these people to vote according to Downs because either party presents the same benefit, thus costs always greater. | ||
| − | + | [[Category:PS 240]] | |
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Latest revision as of 13:58, 13 October 2008
This lecture was given in PS 240 on October 6th and continued on October 8th.
Possible exam question[edit]
- Explain the "rational choice theory of voting"
- Discuss the five requirements of rational choice and the assumptions inherent within.
Lecture Material[edit]
Cost and Benefit[edit]
Each potential outcome has a benefit and a cost. Utility, the difference between choices, is equal to the benefits minus the cost. If the costs of an action outweigh the benefits of that same action, a person will not do that thing. If the costs of voting outweigh the benefits of voting, it is irrational to vote
Anthony Downs' An Economic Theory of Democracy[edit]
- 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
- Because every action has a benefit and a cost, in order to determine the best decision, one would choose the action with the highest net benefit
- 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)
- According to this theory, Utility = Benefits - costs + D
Standards of Rationality[edit]
- 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
Assumptions of Rational Choice[edit]
- People know what they want
- People understand the implications of the outcomes
- People apply the same criteria over time
Rational Choice Theory[edit]
There are several Issues disproving it as one can change the inputs to get the right explanation and therefore it can never be "wrong."
Possible Solutions to rational choice theory[edit]
- No cost of voting (Partially untrue, voting is costless, although registering can add up.)
- Cost of voting prohibitive (There is no evidence of people suffering from not voting.)
- Save democracy (long-term cost) (No evidence)
- Selective benefits, a "good" feeling from voting, civic duty, solidarity, expression of opinion (This is 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.[edit]
Parties are Essential[edit]
- They make it easier for voters by providing information shortcut, lowering the cost of voting, learning about candidates
- They have no social aims (in real ideology in Downsian view).
- They are economic animals seeking power/control. Therefore parties must respond to voter preferences and provide a measure of expected utility (what you’ll get if they win)
- Overtime, two distinct but relatively centric parties make modest changes to maintain stability
- Party in power tends to not shift as much
- “Voters” always changing, people come of age, die, thus parties change to accommodate new makeup of preferences
- Group of people who consistently don’t vote lay between ideological positions of parties.
- Always irrational for these people to vote according to Downs because either party presents the same benefit, thus costs always greater.
