The Logic of Politics

1. The Logic of Politics

2. Let’s assume people are:1. self interested2. rational

3. Collective Action Problems • Definition: Problems that arise when a group of people tries to reach and implement agreements. Two types: • Coordination problems • Prisoners’ Dilemmas

4. Coordination Problems • Group members have to decide what they want, what they will contribute to get it, and how to coordinate to achieve their goal • Why is this hard to do? • How can we solve these problems?

5. Solve coordination problems through: • Rules (majority rule) • Delegation • Shared focal points

6. What are some costs individuals must pay to achieve collective ends? • Transaction costs • Conformity costs • Why is there a tradeoff between them?

7. How does Congress face collective action problems?How does it solve them?

8. Congress’ collective action solutions • Coordination problems • Designate a “traffic cop” (committee chairs, Rules committee/Majority leader) • Resolving conflict • Delegate authority to negotiate to party leaders • Transaction costs of legislating • Following established rules • Institutional collective action problem • Assign members to committees relevant to constituents

9. Collective Action Problems • Definition: Problems that arise when a group of people tries to reach and implement agreements. Two types: • Coordination problems • Prisoners’ Dilemmas

10. The Prisoner’s Dilemma • There is a collective good that benefits everyone in a group • It is not in any one person’s private interest to help provide it

11. Prisoners’ Dilemmas • Free rider problem • Individual contribution small • Get benefits whether or not you contribute • Private incentive to shirk

12. Prisoners’ Dilemmas • Tragedy of the commons • Collective good exists but can be depleted or destroyed by overuse • It is in everyone’s private interest to overuse

13. Solutions to prisoners’ dilemmas • Rules, rewards, and punishments that link private incentive to public good

14. The Logic of Politics • Assume political actors are rational and self-interested. • If you understand the incentives faced by a political actor, you can understand his behavior. • Therefore, by manipulating his or her private incentives, you can thereby change his or her behavior. • Institutions, laws, and rules change individuals’ private incentives.

15. Veto Games