An Economic Theory of DemocracyThis book seeks to elucidate its subject-the governing of democratic state-by making intelligible the party politics of democracies. Downs treats this differently than do other students of politics. His explanations are systematically related to, and deducible from, precisely stated assumptions about the motivations that attend the decisions of voters and parties and the environment in which they act. He is consciously concerned with the economy in explanation, that is, with attempting to account for phenomena in terms of a very limited number of facts and postulates. He is concerned also with the central features of party politics in any democratic state, not with that in the United States or any other single country. |
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Page 53
... ernment action includes his gains from law and order in society and security in world politics . Even if this total utility income exceeds his total loss of utility in taxes and to government acts he dislikes , he may still strongly ...
... ernment action includes his gains from law and order in society and security in world politics . Even if this total utility income exceeds his total loss of utility in taxes and to government acts he dislikes , he may still strongly ...
Page 91
... ernment adapts itself to public opinion whenever it discovers con- sensus therein . In guessing how representative lobbyists really are , each political party usually discounts their claims of support . Congressional hear- ings are ...
... ernment adapts itself to public opinion whenever it discovers con- sensus therein . In guessing how representative lobbyists really are , each political party usually discounts their claims of support . Congressional hear- ings are ...
Page 172
... ernment action embodies voluntary coercion which allows society to reach a Paretian optimum even though collective ... ernment's nature prevents it from moving society to an optimum position , but the nature of the collective goods ...
... ernment action embodies voluntary coercion which allows society to reach a Paretian optimum even though collective ... ernment's nature prevents it from moving society to an optimum position , but the nature of the collective goods ...
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Common terms and phrases
abstain alternatives analysis assume assumption axiom basic benefits cause ceteris paribus citizen X coalition competition conclusion cost of voting decision-making democracy Derived from Chapter discount distribution of voters division of labor economic theory economists effect election period electorate equal ernment exist extremist fact favor free information free market gain goals government action government policy government's groups hence ideologies incumbents indifferent individual influence irrational issue Kenneth Arrow marginal cost marginal equilibrium maximize means ment motives multiparty system oligopoly opposition parties outcome Paretian optimum party differential party's pay-off political information political parties position possible preferences problem Proposition rational citizen rational voter real world reason reëlected return from voting scale selection principles social society strategy tion two-party system uncertainty utility functions utility income V. O. Key views vote-selling voting decision welfare Welfare Economics well-informed zero