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 42
... reëlection as a man- date to continue their former policies . Conversely , the opposition party regards its ... reëlected . However , no one knows in advance just what policy changes the opposition will make if it is elected ...
... reëlection as a man- date to continue their former policies . Conversely , the opposition party regards its ... reëlected . However , no one knows in advance just what policy changes the opposition will make if it is elected ...
Page 62
... reëlected , then party motivation for action cannot long remain the desire to be reëlected . Experience will soon convince each party that this desire is futile . Therefore , once elected , a government has no reason to follow the ...
... reëlected , then party motivation for action cannot long remain the desire to be reëlected . Experience will soon convince each party that this desire is futile . Therefore , once elected , a government has no reason to follow the ...
Page 107
Anthony Downs. parties are inexorably driven by their own motives to be both re- liable and responsible . C. HOW ... reëlected ; hence it must be prepared to become an opposition party if necessary . But if it is unreliable when in ...
Anthony Downs. parties are inexorably driven by their own motives to be both re- liable and responsible . C. HOW ... reëlected ; hence it must be prepared to become an opposition party if necessary . But if it is unreliable when in ...
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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