Making a case for the rational, self‐regarding, ‘ethical’ voter… and solving the ‘Paradox of not voting’ in the process
- 1 April 1995
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in European Journal of Political Research
- Vol. 27 (3) , 369-396
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6765.1995.tb00475.x
Abstract
The article offers a new solution to one of the major puzzles facing the public choice‐paradigm: the ‘Paradox of not voting’. Utilizing a principal‐agent model, I argue that voting may be regarded as a rational investment decision:notan investment in a particular electorial outcome, but in a type ofreputationwhich the individual is interested in maintaining when carrying out his/her everyday activities. This solution not only solves the paradox, but may also provide a bridge between adherents of the public choice‐paradigm and scholars who advocate ‘sociological’ approaches to political behaviour.Keywords
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