Introductory description

This module develops mathematical models to study collective decision making and analyse the rational behaviour of voters, politicians, and government officials from the perspective of economic theory. Students are introduced to the theory of social choice, studying various ways of aggregating individual preferences into a coherent collective decision, and the fundamental trade-offs any democratic voting mechanism faces. Next, students study game-theoretic models of political competition in elections. The module moves on to look at how a group can aggregate information better (or worse) than each of its members and the problems of coordination and free-riding in competing groups of political agents. Overall, this module provides the formal basis for positive and normative analysis of many democratic institutions.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The module will typically cover some of the following topics: Voting as preference aggregation; the social choice approach. Voting rules: unanimity, simple majority. Problems of majority voting: cycling, Arrow’s impossibility theorem. Restrictions on preference profiles. The single crossing property. Gibbard-Satterthwaite Theorem, strategy-proofness. Voting with more than two alternatives: majoritarian methods, Condorcet extensions, and positional methods. The spatial model of elections. Majority rule core, global cycling, McKelvey’s chaos theorem. Game theoretic approaches; two party competition, median voter theorem. Agenda manipulation. Public choice in a representative democracy; voting over redistribution. Bargaining in legislatures. Public goods and collective action; paradox of voting. Voting with incomplete information; Condorcet Jury theorem.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Key Skills: Demonstrate proficiency in study and research skills such as: (iii) reviewing the relevant literature and evidence. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, seminars and background reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Final Examination.
• Key Skills: Demonstrate proficiency in study and research skills such as: data skills: Use of library and internet as information sources. Knowledge of how to locate relevant data, extract appropriate data, analysis and present material. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, seminars and background reading . The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Final Examination.
• Key Skills: Demonstrate proficiency in study and research skills such as: mathematical/statistical skills: use/application of mathematics and diagrams in economic analysis; understanding of statistical analysis of data. Use of spreadsheet and statistics packages such as STATA and SPSS. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, seminars and background reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Final Examination.
• Key Skills: Demonstrate proficiency in study and research skills such as: communicating their knowledge and understanding to others, verbally and in writing The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, seminars and background reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Final Examination.
• Subject Knowledge and Understanding : Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: (iii) Public choice: the decision-making behaviour of voters, politicians and government officials from the perspective of economic theory. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, seminars and background reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Final Examination.
• Cognitive skills: Demonstrate capacity of: Abstraction and Problem solving. Applying critical analysis to the topics of the module, formulating concepts and hypotheses, and showing how they are tested in relevant literature The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, seminars and background reading The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Final Examination.
• Cognitive skills: Demonstrate capacity of: Analytical thinking, reasoning and application. Applying critical analysis to the topics of the module, formulating concepts and hypotheses, and showing how they are tested in relevant literature. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, seminars and background reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Final Examination.
• Cognitive skills: Demonstrate capacity of: Critical, creative and strategic thinking. Applying critical analysis to the topics of the module, formulating concepts and hypotheses, and showing how they are tested in relevant literature. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, seminars and background reading . The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Final Examination.

Indicative reading list

Please see Talis Aspire link for most up to date list.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

Students will have the opportunity to develop skills in:
Analytical thinking and communication
Analytical reasoning
Critical thinking
Strategic thinking
Problem-solving
Analysis of incentives
Analysis of institutions
Understanding of Uncertainty and Incomplete Information

Transferable skills

Students will have the opportunity to develop:
Research skills
Numeracy and quantitative skills
Written communication skills
Oral communication skills
Mathematical, statistical and data-based research skills