Is Voting Economically Rational?
Sunday August 24, 2008
One piece of human behavior that does not fit well into mainstream economics view of decision making is voting. Voting, on the surface, seems to be a wholly irrational act - the chance that your vote is going to make a difference in the outcome is so infinitesimally small that it is not worth the opportunity cost of the time spent.
Gelman and Kaplan attempt to reconcile rationality and voting in: Voting as a rational decision. I can't say that I find their explanation particularly compelling.
In general I think economists need to rethink their assumptions on why people vote. Personally, my reasons for voting are the same reasons I have for going to the Rogers Centre to see the Blue Jays - I go to be part of the event and to cheer "my team" on. I don't go because I expect to change the outcome of the game.
Gelman and Kaplan attempt to reconcile rationality and voting in: Voting as a rational decision. I can't say that I find their explanation particularly compelling.
In general I think economists need to rethink their assumptions on why people vote. Personally, my reasons for voting are the same reasons I have for going to the Rogers Centre to see the Blue Jays - I go to be part of the event and to cheer "my team" on. I don't go because I expect to change the outcome of the game.
Comments
In common with the logical trap of democracy (it is democratic not to be democratic, because we have the right to express our opinion in a democratic country) so to do many people choose not to vote.
This voting decision is logical but it partly breaks down the concept of an idealy democratic state or an properly elected leader. There are several similar imperfections about our so called democracy, it is not simply a case of having it or not having it. Even dictatorships have a degree of democracy although it is not in our democratic interests to admit it!