Altruism and Redistributive Government Policies

Abstract

Downs (1957) first noted that if self-interest is the sole motivation for voting and most other forms of political participation, then voting, etc., are irrational, because the costs would exceed the expected benefits. In response, two schools of thought developed. The first, the consumption analysis, holds that individuals participate in politics because they are either pursuing their civic duty or receiving an expressive benefit. Individuals receive a benefit from the act of participation itself. The second, or instrumental analysis, holds that the purpose of voting is to affect government policies. The evidence from voting, the acquisition of political information, etc., is consistent with the instrumental view of participation. I have argued that any instrumental analysis must be based only on altruistic benefits to participants (chapters 2 and 3).