To Vote or Not to Vote? : The Merits and Limits of Rational Choice Theory

Blais, Andre

ISBN 10: 0822957345 / ISBN 13: 9780822957348

Published by University of Pittsburgh Press, 2000

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 199946-n

Bibliographic Details

• Title: To Vote or Not to Vote? : The Merits and Limits of Rational Choice Theory
• Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0822957345
• ISBN 13: 9780822957348
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

What makes people decide to vote? In addressing this simple question, Andr\u00e9 Blais examines the factors that increase or decrease turnout at the aggregate, cross-national level and considers what affects people\u2019s decision to vote or to abstain. In doing so, Blais assesses the merits and limitations of the rational choice model in explaining voter behavior. The past few decades have witnessed a rise in the popularity of the rational choice model in accounting for voter turnout, and more recently a groundswell of outspoken opposition to rational choice theory.


Blais tackles this controversial subject in an engaging and personal way, bringing together the opposing theories and literatures, and offering convincing tests of these different viewpoints. Most important, he handles the discussion in a clear and balanced manner. Using new data sets from many countries, Blais concludes that while rational choice is an important tool—even when it doesn\u2019t work—its empirical contribution to understanding why people vote is quite limited.


Whether one supports rational choice theory or opposes it, Blais\u2019s evenhanded and timely analysis will certainly be of interest, and is well-suited for advanced undergraduate and graduate-level classes.

About the Author

Andre Blais is professor of political science and fellow with the Centre de recherche et developpement en economique at the Universite de Montreal. He has published twelve books and more than one hundred articles in journals such as the American Journal of Political Science, the British Journal of Political Science, Comparative Political Studies, and Public Choice. He was a member of the editorial board of the International Encyclopedia of Elections, and he is the principal co-investigator of the Canadian Election Study.