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

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

by Blais, Andre
No customer reviews yet ISBN 9780822957348 University of Pittsburgh Press

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.

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Product details

BrandUniversity of Pittsburgh Press
Pub dateAug 3, 2000
ISBN-100822957345
ISBN-139780822957348
Paperback216.0 pages
LanguageEnglish
Dimensions9 × 0.7 × 6 in
Weight1 lb
Last updated 2026-04-25 09:11
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