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 24
... party ( or parties ) from taking office . 7. The party in power never attempts to restrict the political activi- ties of any citizens or other parties as long as they make no at- tempt to overthrow the government by force . 8. There are ...
... party ( or parties ) from taking office . 7. The party in power never attempts to restrict the political activi- ties of any citizens or other parties as long as they make no at- tempt to overthrow the government by force . 8. There are ...
Page 136
... political scale into which various interpretations of a party's net position may fall . Ambiguity thus increases the number of voters to whom a party may appeal . This fact encourages parties in a two - party system to be as equivocal ...
... political scale into which various interpretations of a party's net position may fall . Ambiguity thus increases the number of voters to whom a party may appeal . This fact encourages parties in a two - party system to be as equivocal ...
Page 309
... parties in coalition governments , 159 ; as party motive , 30-31 ... political as attention focusers , 226-227 conflict with voters , 136-140 ... parties , 55-62 why ideologies developed by , 100- 102 See also Government ; Govern ...
... parties in coalition governments , 159 ; as party motive , 30-31 ... political as attention focusers , 226-227 conflict with voters , 136-140 ... parties , 55-62 why ideologies developed by , 100- 102 See also Government ; Govern ...
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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