Language | English |
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Title of host publication | Oxford Research Encyclopaedia of Politics |
Editors | William Thompson |
Place of Publication | [New York] |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2016 |
Abstract
Publication series
Name | Oxford Research Encyclopaedias |
---|---|
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- rational choice
- voting
- social choice
- elections
- rationality
Cite this
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Voting choice and rational choice. / McGann, Anthony.
Oxford Research Encyclopaedia of Politics. ed. / William Thompson. [New York] : Oxford University Press, 2016. (Oxford Research Encyclopaedias).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary
TY - CHAP
T1 - Voting choice and rational choice
AU - McGann, Anthony
PY - 2016/7/1
Y1 - 2016/7/1
N2 - Rational choice theory may seem like a separate theoretical approach with its own forbidding mathematics. However, the central assumptions of rational choice theory are very similar to those in mainstream political behavior and even interpretive sociology. Indeed, many of the statistical methods used in empirical political behavior assume axiomatic models of voter choice. When we consider individual voting behavior, the contribution of rational choice has been to formalize what empirical political scientists do anyway, and provide some new tools. However, it is when we consider collective voting choice—what elections mean and what kind of policy outcomes result—that rational choice leads to new, counterintuitive insights. Rational choice also has a normative dimension. Without voter rationality the traditional understanding of democracy as popular choice makes little sense.
AB - Rational choice theory may seem like a separate theoretical approach with its own forbidding mathematics. However, the central assumptions of rational choice theory are very similar to those in mainstream political behavior and even interpretive sociology. Indeed, many of the statistical methods used in empirical political behavior assume axiomatic models of voter choice. When we consider individual voting behavior, the contribution of rational choice has been to formalize what empirical political scientists do anyway, and provide some new tools. However, it is when we consider collective voting choice—what elections mean and what kind of policy outcomes result—that rational choice leads to new, counterintuitive insights. Rational choice also has a normative dimension. Without voter rationality the traditional understanding of democracy as popular choice makes little sense.
KW - rational choice
KW - voting
KW - social choice
KW - elections
KW - rationality
UR - http://politics.oxfordre.com/#
U2 - 10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.79
DO - 10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.79
M3 - Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary
T3 - Oxford Research Encyclopaedias
BT - Oxford Research Encyclopaedia of Politics
A2 - Thompson, William
PB - Oxford University Press
CY - [New York]
ER -