tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815379345496796571.post7713141183404316320..comments2023-07-07T08:28:25.275-04:00Comments on Wise as Serpents: Smackdown: Homo Sociologicus v. Homo EconomicusMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10355160907086977558noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815379345496796571.post-35844574795623931722010-05-11T11:51:02.640-04:002010-05-11T11:51:02.640-04:00In the 1950s, two classic works in political scien...In the 1950s, two classic works in political science appeared: "An Economic Theory of Democracy" by Anthony Downs and "The American Voter" by Campbell et al. The Downs book was an expansive application of economic theory to voting decisions, and was based upon the rational-actor model. "The American Voter" was more an exercise in <i> homo sociologicus </i> -- voters responded less to cost benefit calculation about policies and more to social cues such the party affiliation of other people in similar social conditions.<br /><br />For over a decade, the sociological view held sway. The American Voter documented that, during the Eisenhower 50s, few people could articulate a position on Nebraska's approach to public power or the island of Quemoy. However, flash forward to the late 1960s, the era of Vietnam and urban riots, and you get a very different picture. Voters were pretty accurate in determining where Humphrey, Wallace, and Nixon stood on the issues of the day. This suggests a form of rational information gathering, where social cues ("Episcopalians are Republicans")can be used when they are relatively efficient, and then abandoned when they no longer serve their purpose.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10355160907086977558noreply@blogger.com