How much do voters' know? An analysis of motivation and political awareness

Jones, Philip and Dawson, Peter (2008) How much do voters' know? An analysis of motivation and political awareness. Scottish Journal of Political Economy, 55 (2). pp. 123-142. ISSN 0036-9292

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

Downs argued that instrumental individuals have no incentive to incur costs to turn out to vote. High turnout rates are explained in terms of intrinsic value derived from action. But if it is important to individuals that they participate, surely it matters how they participate? This paper tests the proposition that voters acquire more political information than those who abstain because they believe they have a duty to participate in collective decision-making processes. It also considers the relevance of civic duty when explaining systematic differences between preferences expressed by those who vote and by those who abstain. Choice expressed at the ballot box is not the same as demand revealed in markets.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Economics
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Applied Econometrics And Finance Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Behavioural Economics
Depositing User:	Katherine Humphries
Date Deposited:	09 Feb 2012 16:40
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2023 14:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/37012
DOI:	10.1111/j.1467-9485.2008.00447.x

Actions (login required)

View Item