Rational Actor Theory in Politics: A Critical Review of John Quiggin

Geoffrey Brennan and Jonathan Pincus

The Economic Record, 1987, vol. 63, issue 180, pages 22-32

Abstract: John Quiggin's paper attacks public-choice theory, among other things, for its use of the assumption of "rational egoism." The object of the authors' response is twofold. First, to disting uish egoism from rationality and to indicate that rationality postula tes, when faithfully applied, provide reasons for believing that poli tical behavior and market behavior will be systematically different. Second, to indicate that comparative static propositions in public-ch oice theory can be sustained on rather weaker behavioral assumptions than homo economicus embodies, and that consequently some of the publ ic-choice orthodoxy would survive any attack on the egoism assumption Copyright 1987 by The Economic Society of Australia.

Date: 1987
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