This enquiry deals with the shortcomings of rational choice theory in explaining voter turnout as a rational - i.e. efficient in terms of costs and benefits - act. It is argued that intrinsic benefits, i.e. benefits that accrue to the citizen independent of an election outcome, should provide a proper explanatory potential if one can account for different implications of these benefits for different voters. The rationale should hold for benefits in general, though. Underlying coherent priorities in the form of political values (materialism vs. postmaterialism) are used to differentiate voters and to probe for differing impacts of determinants of voter turnout depending on different underlying values. The thesis is that the impacts of these determinants differ for different values. The tested determinants, taken from the literature, are appreciation of democracy, social norms, party identification and material resources. Hypotheses about impacts are formulated on the basis of the theory of political values for every determinant and tested by means of logistic regression employing data from German election studies. Whereas the impacts of social norms and material resources vary by underlying values, the results for appreciation of democracy and party identification remain inclusive.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Political Values and political participation
3. Rational Choice Theory’s solutions to explaining voter turnout
4. Expected impacts of the determinants of voting for different political values
5. Measures and Data
6. Results
7. Interpretation and Discussion
8. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This study aims to address the limitations of traditional rational choice theory in explaining voter turnout by integrating the theory of political values, specifically differentiating between materialist and postmaterialist voters. The primary research question investigates whether distinct sets of priorities—associated with these value orientations—can explain the differential impacts of intrinsic benefits (such as social norms, party identification, and appreciation of democracy) and material resources on the probability of an individual voting.
- Analysis of rational choice theory's paradox regarding voter turnout.
- Application of Inglehart's theory of materialist and postmaterialist values to voter behavior.
- Empirical testing of determinants including social norms, party identification, and material resources using German election data.
- Investigation of whether political values provide a non-tautological explanation for differential voting behavior.
- Evaluation of instrumental versus expressive motives within the voting calculus of different voter types.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
Why do voters turn out at the poll? This question has been taken on, amongst others, by rational choice theory. Rational choice theory posits that individuals act rationally in the sense that they calculate the benefits and costs, i.e. the utility, of possible actions and choose the one with the highest net returns. This parsimonious and straightforward approach to explaining individual behaviour, scholars have remarked over decades, seems to be out of joint when applied the issue of voter turnout.
The crux has been specified repeatedly (see Verba et al. 2000; Laver 1997; Bäck et al. forthcoming; Whiteley 1995). It can be outlined by looking at the basic calculus of voting as formulated by Riker and Ordeshook (1968). The calculus represents the utility of voting and comprises the voter’s probability of being decisive (p) times the expected benefits from the preferred result (B) minus the costs of voting (C). If p times B is smaller than the costs, the utility of voting is negative. It would be irrational to vote.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the rational choice paradox regarding voter turnout and proposes using political values to refine these explanations.
2. Political Values and political participation: Reviews Inglehart's theory of value change and existing literature on how materialist/postmaterialist values influence political participation.
3. Rational Choice Theory’s solutions to explaining voter turnout: Examines selected approaches, such as expressive benefits and instrumental motives, that attempt to solve the paradox of voter turnout.
4. Expected impacts of the determinants of voting for different political values: Derives specific hypotheses regarding how determinants like democracy appreciation, social norms, and resources should differentially affect materialists and postmaterialists.
5. Measures and Data: Describes the methodology, including the pooling of German election datasets and the operationalization of variables like political values and instrumental party identification.
6. Results: Presents the findings of logistic regression models for materialist and postmaterialist voters, highlighting significant differences in the impact of social norms and resources.
7. Interpretation and Discussion: Discusses the theoretical implications of the findings and addresses the challenges in maintaining parsimony within rational choice theory.
8. Conclusion: Summarizes the study, confirming that political values help discriminate between the effects of intrinsic benefits on different voter types.
Keywords
Rational choice theory, voter turnout, materialism, postmaterialism, political values, social norms, party identification, intrinsic benefits, instrumental motives, German election studies, civic duty, logistic regression, political participation, voting calculus, material resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The paper examines why rational choice theory struggles to explain voter turnout and tests whether incorporating political values—specifically materialism and postmaterialism—can provide a more nuanced understanding of why individuals choose to vote.
What are the main thematic areas of this study?
The study centers on the intersection of rational choice models, the theory of political values, and determinants of voting behavior such as social norms, party identification, and economic resources.
What is the central research question?
The research asks if different patterns of preferences, implied by materialist or postmaterialist orientations, explain the differential impacts that intrinsic benefits and resources have on an individual's decision to vote.
Which scientific methodology is used?
The author employs logistic regression analysis on pooled data from three German election studies to test hypotheses across different voter types.
What is covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers the theoretical foundations of rational choice and political values, the formulation of hypotheses based on these theories, the operationalization of data, and a presentation and interpretation of the empirical results.
What are the characterizing keywords of this work?
Key terms include rational choice theory, voter turnout, postmaterialism, materialism, political values, social norms, party identification, and electoral behavior.
How do materialist and postmaterialist voters differ in their reliance on social norms?
The results indicate that social norms have a significantly stronger impact on the probability of voting for materialists compared to postmaterialists, suggesting that materialists are more sensitive to social imperatives.
What does the study conclude about the influence of low income on voting behavior?
The study finds that a lack of material resources, measured as low income, has a significant negative impact on the probability of voting specifically for materialists, supporting the existence of a negative bias against poorer citizens within this group.
- Quote paper
- Pascal König (Author), 2009, Using underlying priorities for rational choice explanations, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/153775
