The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies - New Edition Paperback - 2008
by Bryan Caplan
From the rear cover
"Caplan offers readers a delightful mixture of economics, political science, psychology, philosophy, and history to resolve a puzzle that, at one time or another, has intrigued every student of public policy."--N. Gregory Mankiw, Harvard University, former chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers
"Why democracies so often make a hash out of economic policy is one of the great questions of political economy. Bryan Caplan suggests some provocative, and highly original, answers. This book may make you smile or it may make you scowl, but it will definitely not make you bored."--Alan S. Blinder, Princeton University
"The Myth of the Rational Voter discredits the fashionable view that democratic politics necessarily prevents socially harmful policies. Voters lack incentives to become well informed about political controversies, Bryan Caplan shows, and their policy choices tend to be based on deeply, persistently, and systematically mistaken models of reality. Caplan's findings lead inexorably to the conclusion that democratic governance can be improved only through reforms based on realistic assumptions about human cognition. Anyone concerned about political efficiency should read this elegant book carefully."--Timur Kuran, author of Islam and Mammon
"Bryan Caplan blends economics, political science, and psychology in an arresting and informative polemic that is witty, crisp, cogent, provocative, and timely. You may or may not agree with his assessment of our democracy, but you will be entertained, challenged, and perhaps angered, but also enlightened."--Scott Keeter, Pew Research Center
"The argument Caplan offers is basically right and is extremely important. I suspect this book will stir up a certain amount of controversy. The argument challenges conventional public choice in that it radically undermines the notion of substantively rational voting. At the same time, it is in the same skeptical tradition as public-choice orthodoxy, challenging the claims of democratic enthusiasts. It is a book that deserves to be taken very seriously."--Geoffrey Brennan, coauthor of The Economy of Esteem
"Poorly informed voters are a big problem in democracy, and Caplan makes the interesting argument that this is not necessarily a problem that can be easily fixed--it may be fundamental to the system. Caplan thinks that voting itself is the problem."--Andrew Gelman, Columbia University
Details
- Title The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies - New Edition
- Author Bryan Caplan
- Binding Paperback
- Edition New edition
- Pages 296
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Princeton University Press, Princeton - Oxford
- Date 2008-08-24
- Features Bibliography, Index, Table of Contents
- ISBN 9780691138732 / 0691138737
- Weight 0.95 lbs (0.43 kg)
- Dimensions 8.88 x 6.28 x 0.72 in (22.56 x 15.95 x 1.83 cm)
- Library of Congress subjects Economic policy, Public opinion
- Library of Congress Catalog Number 2006030855
- Dewey Decimal Code 320.6
Media reviews
Citations
- New York Times Book Review, 10/05/2008, Page 28
About the author
More Copies for Sale
The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies - New Edition
by Caplan, Bryan
- Used
- Very Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780691138732 / 0691138737
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Cloverdale, California, United States
- Item Price
-
$15.00$5.00 shipping to USA
Show Details
The Myth of the Rational Voter : Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies - New Edition
by Caplan, Bryan
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780691138732 / 0691138737
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
- Item Price
-
$15.99FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies - New Edition
by Caplan, Bryan
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used: Good
- Edition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780691138732 / 0691138737
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
- Item Price
-
$20.99FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
The Myth of the Rational Voter
by Bryan Caplan
- New
- Paperback
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780691138732 / 0691138737
- Quantity Available
- 127
- Seller
-
Uxbridge, Greater London, United Kingdom
- Item Price
-
$36.34$10.75 shipping to USA
Show Details
The Myth of the Rational Voter – Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies – New Edition
by Caplan, Bryan
- New
- Paperback
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780691138732 / 0691138737
- Quantity Available
- 2
- Seller
-
Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
- Item Price
-
$37.57$13.46 shipping to USA
Show Details
The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies - New Edition
by Caplan, Bryan
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used:Good
- Edition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780691138732 / 0691138737
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
- Item Price
-
$31.95FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
The Myth of the Rational Voter
by Bryan Caplan
- New
- Condition
- New
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780691138732 / 0691138737
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Woodside, New York, United States
- Item Price
-
$38.17$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies - New Edition
by Caplan, Bryan
- New
- Condition
- New
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780691138732 / 0691138737
- Quantity Available
- 78
- Seller
-
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Item Price
-
$38.40$14.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies - New Edition
by Caplan, Bryan
- Used
- Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780691138732 / 0691138737
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Newport Coast, California, United States
- Item Price
-
$41.46FREE shipping to USA