Anthony Downs, in The Economic Theory of Democracy, argues that voters choose to remain "rationally ignorant" when they vote in elections, knowing relatively little about the candidates or the issues.What economic principle would you invoke to explain this behavior?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The cost of information refers to the expenses incurred in acquiring knowledge about an issue or a candidate. Rational ignorance occurs when voters do not invest sufficient time and resources to research candidates, policies, or issues because the benefits of being informed do not outweigh the costs. Therefore, voters choose to remain relatively uninformed, which saves them time and money.

Anthony Downs, in the Economic Theory of Democracy, Argues That