Question 1

Public choice theorists insist that when a person goes from public to private employment, his or her motivations __________ while the institutional arrangements shaping his or her actions __________.

Accepted Answer

Public choice theory suggests that individuals' motivations remain consistent regardless of the sector they work in, but the institutional arrangements (rules, incentives, etc.) that influence how they act change when moving between public and private sectors.

Question 2

Exhibit 31-3
 
-Refer to Exhibit 31-3. The exhibit shows the breakdown of benefits and costs for a five-person community considering whether to purchase a $5,000 statue of Adam Smith to put in the center of the public square. If simple majority voting determines the outcome, the statue _______________ be purchased, and the total costs are ______________ the total benefits of the statue.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Exhibit 31-3
 
-Refer to Exhibit 31-3. The...

Question 3

Congressperson A: "If you approve that new water treatment plant in my district, I'll vote to keep the Air Force base open in your district." Congressperson B: "It's a deal." This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of logrolling, a practice where two or more legislators agree to support each other's proposed legislation or projects in order to achieve political gain. In this case, Congressperson A is offering their vote on the Air Force base in exchange for Congressperson B's support for the water treatment plant.

Question 4

There is evidence that __________ were the main lobbyists behind passage of the Factory Acts which put restrictions on women and children working in early 19th century England.

Accepted Answer

Male workers were among the main lobbyists for the Factory Acts, as they sought to protect their jobs and wages from being undercut by the cheaper labor of women and children. This was part of broader labor movements during the industrial revolution.

Question 5

Exhibit 31-2
​
 
-Refer to Exhibit 31-2-(c). Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 11 voters labeled A-K shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)

Accepted Answer

The median voter theory suggests that in a majority-rule voting system, candidates will aim for the position of the median voter to maximize their appeal. In this case, with 11 voters labeled A-K, the median voter is E, being the sixth voter in line. Therefore, both candidates would ideally position themselves at the ideological stance of voter E to attract the majority of votes.

Question 6

Public choice theorists say that the greater the number of potential voters in an election, the __________ the perceived benefits of voting held by each voter, and so the __________ the likely percentage turnout of voters.

Accepted Answer

Public choice theorists argue that as the number of potential voters increases, the perceived impact or benefit of any single vote diminishes, leading individuals to believe their vote matters less, which in turn reduces their motivation to vote, thus likely decreasing voter turnout percentage.

Question 7

Exhibit 31-2
​
 
-Refer to Exhibit 31-2-(a). Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 9 voters labeled A-I shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)

Accepted Answer

The answer of Exhibit 31-2
​
 
-Refer to Exhibit 31-2-(a). Two...

Question 8

Which of the following is a prediction of the median voter model for a two person political race?

Accepted Answer

The median voter theorem suggests that in a two-candidate race, both candidates will move towards the center of the political spectrum to capture the median voter, assuming voters are distributed along a single policy dimension. This implies that candidates who are behind in the polls might try to adopt positions closer to their opponent to win over undecided or moderate voters, making choice B correct.

Question 9

Simple majority voting sometimes leads to projects being undertaken whose costs are greater than the benefits. How is this possible?

Accepted Answer

Simple majority voting only takes into account the number of people in favor of a project and not the intensity of their preferences. This means that a project could potentially have many supporters who only slightly favor the project, while a smaller group of opponents may strongly oppose it. In this scenario, the benefits may not outweigh the costs, but the simple majority voting system still approves the project. Thus, it is possible for projects to be undertaken whose costs are greater than the benefits.

Question 10

According to the median voter model, a candidate (in a two-person race) is more likely to label himself or herself a "middle-of-the-roader" than a conservative or liberal because

Accepted Answer

According to the median voter model, candidates are more likely to label themselves as "middle-of-the-roaders" because they believe that they can only win an election by being perceived as closer to the center of the political distribution than their opponent. The terms "conservative" and "liberal" are often associated with the "extremes" of the political spectrum, which is why a candidate may shy away from those labels in favor of being seen as more moderate or centrist.

Question 11

-Refer to Situation 31-l. At the time the total yearly salary (including all the benefits) of the average auto worker was no more than $50,000 per year, and the cost per job saved was estimated at $160,000 per worker per year. We can conclude that

Accepted Answer

The cost per job saved ($160,000) being significantly higher than the yearly salary of an auto worker ($50,000) suggests that import quotas were not a cost-efficient way of saving jobs, nor did they necessarily promote the general public interest or result in net social benefits.

Question 12

-Refer to Situation 31-1. Which of the following arguments is least likely to have been used by the U.S. auto industry to argue for import quotas?

Accepted Answer

The least likely argument for import quotas from the U.S. auto industry's perspective is the direct mention of profit increase per vehicle (C), as arguments for trade restrictions are typically framed in terms of broader economic, national security, or fairness issues rather than explicit profit motives.

Question 13

According to public choice theorists, people in the market sector and people in the public sector have __________, and (but) sometimes act differently because of different __________ arrangements in the two sectors.

Accepted Answer

Public choice theory posits that individuals in both the market and public sectors are driven by the same motives, such as self-interest, but their behaviors may differ due to the distinct institutional arrangements governing each sector.

Question 14

A public choice theorist believes that

Accepted Answer

Public choice theory essentially applies economic principles to political processes, suggesting that actors in the public sector have the same motivations as those in the private sector, such as self-interest. It does not inherently assume that government workers are lazy, that they are fundamentally different people than those in the market sector, that they are better people, or that their behavior is primarily influenced by high fixed costs in government.

Question 15

-Refer to Situation 31-l. This episode can be seen as an instance of

Accepted Answer

Special interest politics refers to a situation where policies or decisions are influenced by the interests of a small group rather than the broader public. This is applicable to Situation 31-l, as it typically involves actions or policies that favor a specific group at the expense of the general public or other groups.

Question 16

Exhibit 31-2
​
 
-Refer to Exhibit 31-2-(b). Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 3 voters labeled A, B, and C shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)

Accepted Answer

The median voter theory predicts that candidates will position themselves at the ideological stance of the median voter to maximize their appeal, which in this case is voter B.

Question 17

Public choice economists often explain low voter turnouts in terms of

Accepted Answer

Public choice economists argue that many voters perceive voting as having high costs relative to the perceived benefits, such as the time and effort needed to register and go to the polls, as well as the perceived lack of impact of their vote on the electoral outcome. This perception of net costs of voting is seen as a key factor explaining low voter turnout in many elections.

Question 18

Exhibit 31-3
 
-Refer to Exhibit 31-3. The exhibit shows the breakdown of benefits and costs for a five-person community considering whether to purchase a $5,000 statue of Adam Smith to put in the center of the public square. How will each of the five persons (from Milton to Kenneth, in order) vote?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Exhibit 31-3
 
-Refer to Exhibit 31-3. The...

Question 19

Public choice deals with

Accepted Answer

Public choice theory is concerned with analyzing the decision-making behavior of individuals and groups involved in the public sector, including politicians, bureaucrats, and voters. It uses economic tools to study how these actors make decisions and how these decisions affect the allocation of resources and the provision of public goods and services.

Question 20

In the median voter model, we assume that

Accepted Answer

The median voter model assumes that voters will vote for the candidate who comes closer to matching their views. This is based on the idea that the median voter, who represents the middle of the political spectrum, is the most likely to swing the election in favor of the candidate who appeals to their preferences. Therefore, candidates will typically try to position themselves closer to the middle in order to win over the median voter.

Quiz 31: Public Choice and Special Interest Group Politics

Public choice theorists insist that when a person goes from public to private employment, his or her motivations while the institutional arrangements shaping his or her actions .

Congressperson A: "If you approve that new water treatment plant in my district, I'll vote to keep the Air Force base open in your district." Congressperson B: "It's a deal." This is an example of

There is evidence that __________ were the main lobbyists behind passage of the Factory Acts which put restrictions on women and children working in early 19th century England.

Exhibit 31-2 -Refer to Exhibit 31-2-(c) . Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 11 voters labeled A-K shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)

Public choice theorists say that the greater the number of potential voters in an election, the the perceived benefits of voting held by each voter, and so the the likely percentage turnout of voters.

Exhibit 31-2 -Refer to Exhibit 31-2-(a) . Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 9 voters labeled A-I shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)

Which of the following is a prediction of the median voter model for a two person political race?

Simple majority voting sometimes leads to projects being undertaken whose costs are greater than the benefits. How is this possible?

According to the median voter model, a candidate (in a two-person race) is more likely to label himself or herself a "middle-of-the-roader" than a conservative or liberal because

-Refer to Situation 31-l. At the time the total yearly salary (including all the benefits) of the average auto worker was no more than $50,000 per year, and the cost per job saved was estimated at $160,000 per worker per year. We can conclude that

-Refer to Situation 31-1. Which of the following arguments is least likely to have been used by the U.S. auto industry to argue for import quotas?

According to public choice theorists, people in the market sector and people in the public sector have , and (but) sometimes act differently because of different arrangements in the two sectors.

A public choice theorist believes that

-Refer to Situation 31-l. This episode can be seen as an instance of

Exhibit 31-2 -Refer to Exhibit 31-2-(b) . Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 3 voters labeled A, B, and C shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)

Public choice economists often explain low voter turnouts in terms of

Exhibit 31-3 -Refer to Exhibit 31-3. The exhibit shows the breakdown of benefits and costs for a five-person community considering whether to purchase a $5,000 statue of Adam Smith to put in the center of the public square. How will each of the five persons (from Milton to Kenneth, in order) vote?

Public choice deals with

In the median voter model, we assume that

Quiz 31: Public Choice and Special Interest Group Politics

Public choice theorists insist that when a person goes from public to private employment, his or her motivations __________ while the institutional arrangements shaping his or her actions __________.

Congressperson A: "If you approve that new water treatment plant in my district, I'll vote to keep the Air Force base open in your district." Congressperson B: "It's a deal." This is an example of

There is evidence that __________ were the main lobbyists behind passage of the Factory Acts which put restrictions on women and children working in early 19th century England.

Exhibit 31-2 ​ -Refer to Exhibit 31-2-(c) . Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 11 voters labeled A-K shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)

Public choice theorists say that the greater the number of potential voters in an election, the __________ the perceived benefits of voting held by each voter, and so the __________ the likely percentage turnout of voters.

Exhibit 31-2 ​ -Refer to Exhibit 31-2-(a) . Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 9 voters labeled A-I shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)

Which of the following is a prediction of the median voter model for a two person political race?

Simple majority voting sometimes leads to projects being undertaken whose costs are greater than the benefits. How is this possible?

According to the median voter model, a candidate (in a two-person race) is more likely to label himself or herself a "middle-of-the-roader" than a conservative or liberal because

-Refer to Situation 31-l. At the time the total yearly salary (including all the benefits) of the average auto worker was no more than $50,000 per year, and the cost per job saved was estimated at $160,000 per worker per year. We can conclude that

-Refer to Situation 31-1. Which of the following arguments is least likely to have been used by the U.S. auto industry to argue for import quotas?

According to public choice theorists, people in the market sector and people in the public sector have __________, and (but) sometimes act differently because of different __________ arrangements in the two sectors.

A public choice theorist believes that

-Refer to Situation 31-l. This episode can be seen as an instance of

Exhibit 31-2 ​ -Refer to Exhibit 31-2-(b) . Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 3 voters labeled A, B, and C shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)

Public choice economists often explain low voter turnouts in terms of

Exhibit 31-3 -Refer to Exhibit 31-3. The exhibit shows the breakdown of benefits and costs for a five-person community considering whether to purchase a $5,000 statue of Adam Smith to put in the center of the public square. How will each of the five persons (from Milton to Kenneth, in order) vote?

Public choice deals with

In the median voter model, we assume that

Public choice theorists insist that when a person goes from public to private employment, his or her motivations while the institutional arrangements shaping his or her actions .

Exhibit 31-2 -Refer to Exhibit 31-2-(c) . Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 11 voters labeled A-K shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)

Public choice theorists say that the greater the number of potential voters in an election, the the perceived benefits of voting held by each voter, and so the the likely percentage turnout of voters.

Exhibit 31-2 -Refer to Exhibit 31-2-(a) . Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 9 voters labeled A-I shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)

According to public choice theorists, people in the market sector and people in the public sector have , and (but) sometimes act differently because of different arrangements in the two sectors.

Exhibit 31-2 -Refer to Exhibit 31-2-(b) . Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 3 voters labeled A, B, and C shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)