POLS 3670 Lecture 3: Lecture 3
10 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Agenda setting phase: defining what a problem is. Application of economic thinking to the analysis of public policymaking. All human behaviour can be explained by looking at individual action. Individuals are rational and will always act based on self-interest. Non-state actors will vote for parties that maximize their options and state actors will respond in such a way as to preserve power (compare with market competition) Results in rent-seeking behaviour: maximizing the extract (rents) from the state (ideally by not contributing) Non-state actors vote for expansion of social programs and politicians will respond by providing them. Less gov, more markets (coming from fiscal, right wing) Assumes when one is voting, they are not thinking about politicians personality; it is purely rational. Other (non-rational) factors that influence policy: ideology, religion, values, culture . Reduction in state size from 1980s and on. Main drivers of policy are groups in society (looks at groups, opposed to individuals)
