Emotions

Author(s):  
Jon Elster

This article explores the role of emotions in the explanation of behavior. It first provides an overview of complexities associated with the term ‘emotion’ before discussing the link between emotions and rationality. In particular, it considers the rational choice theory of action and the notion of emotional choice, along with the impact of emotion on substantive preferences, formal preferences, beliefs and belief formation, and information-gathering. The article argues that emotions governing action should not be deemed inaccessible to analytic social-science inquiry. Even if emotions trigger actions and reactions discontinuous with prior action streams, emotions do not make the rational-actor model fail. Emotions can determine belief and urgency-based emotions can determine outcomes.

1973 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W. Russell

The main hypothesis of this article is that transgovernmental interaction among central banks and finance ministries of industrialized countries was as significant in economic policy formation as intergovernmental interaction. Elite interview data indicate, however, that the international consultative process among deputy central bank governors and deputy finance ministers conformed more closely to the intergovernmental image of international politics than had been expected. Both interaction patterns within the deputies’ consultative group and the impact of international consultations upon national economic policies could be explained moderately well in terms of a unified rational actor model. Examination of the transgovernmental interaction does suggest ways to systematically modify and improve interpretations based upon the rational actor model. In addition, the degree of politicization of issues may prove to be a reliable guide when deciding whether the transgovernmental dimension of an issue requires detailed study.


Author(s):  
Molly M. Melin

The Building and Breaking of Peace considers the role of corporate firms in building peaceful societies. Examining the corporate motives for peacebuilding and then the implications of these activities for preventing violence and conflict resolution creates a holistic picture of the peace and conflict process. The book examines variation in corporate engagement as a product of corporate culture and shifts in government capacity, as well as threats to the ability to conduct business. Corporations engage in peacebuilding when there is a gap in the state’s capacity to enforce laws creating the demand for engagement but when there is stability that enables firms to supply peacebuilding. The book then considers the implications of corporate engagement for preventing and ending violence. Building on the rational choice theory of civil war and drawing from business research, The Building and Breaking of Peace examines the role of corporate firms in building peaceful societies. While firms are uniquely situated in their ability to raise the cost of violence, an active private sector acts as an additional veto player in the bargaining process, making it significantly harder to reach an agreement. The findings suggest that corporations help to prevent violence but not resolve it. These arguments are tested on original cross-national data of peacebuilding efforts by firms in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa from 2000 to 2018 and in-depth case analyses of corporate actions and outcomes in Colombia, Northern Ireland, and Tunisia.


2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 990-1009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Breux ◽  
Jérôme Couture ◽  
Nicole Goodman

Municipal voter turnout is often considered to be a function of electorate size. According to the rational choice theory of voter behavior, a rational voter is more inclined to abstain in the presence of larger electorates, and more likely to participate in smaller ones. This article examines the impact of electorate size on voter turnout using a multivariate regression model to explain voter participation in Quebec municipalities in the 2009 and 2013 local elections ( N = 1040). Several other assumptions pertaining to the rational voter are also tested. We find that rational choice theory explains 45% of municipal voter participation in these Quebec elections and that it supports the probability of pivotal voting. Our analysis also confirms that the number of electors, number of mayoral candidates, tax rate, presence of a political party, and incumbency have different effects on participation in small and large municipalities.


Author(s):  
Nuno Garoupa ◽  
Sofia Amaral-Garcia

This chapter provides a rational choice theory to explain why features of administrative law vary across jurisdictions. It relates these varying features of administrative law to economic performance (as measured by macroeconomic variables or more specific variables such as rule of law, judicial effectiveness, governance indicators, or quality of legal institutions). The chapter also reveals a normative dimension related to the inevitable question of which arrangements or institutions produce better results. To that end, it reviews the current economic models of administrative adjudication. The chapter next takes a look at some more specific topics: specialized agencies, specialized courts, and state liability. Finally, it looks at the role of the interaction between administrative and constitutional law as well as rule-making and other types of executive policy-making.


Author(s):  
Dorian-Laurentiu Florea ◽  
Claudiu-Catalin Munteanu ◽  
Dora-Carmen Galvez Cruz ◽  
Gabriela Capatina

Theory underlines the role of new product development for company survival and success. However, the success rates of new products launches are always at underwhelming levels. Practical wisdom shows that new product performance is the outcome of both controllable, internal factors and external, uncontrollable factors. The authors contrast the role of product category lifecycle as an external factor and of marketing capabilities as an internal factor, to find the balance between these two determinants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to compare the impact of both types of factors on launch proficiency and further product growth. We apply PLS-SEM on a sample of 213 Mexican firms to test a theoretical model grounded on resource-advantage theory and strategic choice theory. Results show that both determinants are significant, but marketing capabilities exert a much stronger influence on new product performance. The relationship between marketing capabilities and unique product performance is mediated by marketing program planning. In contrast, the relationship between product category lifecycle and new product performance is mediated by launch proficiency. In this context, marketing program planning efficiency represents the mid-term and long-term quality of strategic marketing. At the same time, the overall launch proficiency reflects the short-term ability of the company to launch new products. From the perspective of strategic choice theory, the results of our study reinforce the importance of a successful launch for the short-term and mid-term new product performance. Besides, our empirical research finds that product category lifecycle strengthens the positive relationship between marketing program planning and unique product performance. This makes marketing program planning more critical for new product performance as the product category matures. From a managerial standpoint, our findings dismiss the uncontrollable market forces as the main reason for new product failures. We show that new product failures are most often caused by the marketing manager’s inability to devise an appropriate marketing plan. The paper also contributes to the literature of resource-advantage theory by providing compelling evidence regarding the foremost importance of marketing capabilities for new product success. Our findings also emphasize the essential role of launch proficiency in further product success, as it is difficult to recover from an early product failure. In practical terms, managers are advised not to postpone new product launches under the «bad timing» argument. Keywords launch proficiency, marketing capabilities, marketing program planning, new product performance, product lifecycle.


Author(s):  
Elisabeth Gidengil

Why voters turn out on Election Day has eluded a straightforward explanation. Rational choice theorists have proposed a parsimonious model, but its logical implication is that hardly anyone would vote since their one vote is unlikely to determine the election outcome. Attempts to save the rational choice model incorporate factors like the expressive benefits of voting, yet these modifications seem to be at odds with core assumptions of rational choice theory. Still, some people do weigh the expected costs and benefits of voting and take account of the closeness of the election when deciding whether or not to vote. Many more, though, vote out of a sense of civic duty. In contrast to the calculus of voting model, the civic voluntarism model focuses on the role of resources, political engagement, and to a lesser extent, recruitment in encouraging people to vote. It pays particular attention to the sources of these factors and traces complex paths among them. There are many other theories of why people vote in elections. Intergenerational transmission and education play central roles in the civic voluntarism models. Studies that link official voting records with census data provide persuasive evidence of the influence of parental turnout. Education is one of the best individual-level predictors of voter turnout, but critics charge that it is simply a proxy for pre-adult experiences within the home. Studies using equally sophisticated designs that mimic the logic of controlled experiments have reached contradictory conclusions about the association between education and turnout. Some of the most innovative work on voter turnout is exploring the role of genetic influences and personality traits, both of which have an element of heritability. This work is in its infancy, but it is likely that many genes shape the predisposition to vote and that they interact in complex ways with environmental influences. Few clear patterns have emerged in the association between personality and turnout. Finally, scholars are beginning to recognize the importance of exploring the connection between health and turnout.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jason Wellington Callaway

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] The purpose of this qualitative case study program evaluation was to explore the current process being used to implement the ImPACT concussion program in a Northwest Missouri School District (District X). In addition, this study also added to the body of literature regarding the evaluation of the implementation of concussion programs under the Missouri Concussion Law. This study was guided through the lenses of Rational Choice Theory and Program Evaluation to aid the focus of the study. The overarching questions that guided the research are as followed; what were the intended purposes of District X‟s ImPACT program? What process and procedures have been put into place to fulfill the intended purposes and State mandates? How are athletes, coaches, administration, doctors, parents and teachers educated about the ImPACT program? How are athletes, coaches, administration, doctors, parents, teachers implementing process and procedures of the ImPACT program? This qualitative study used review of previous literature, document review, interviews, observations field notes and focus groups to obtain data. Findings of the data took the form of five themes. The themes were theme one there is a need for the ImPACT program. The second theme Program is conceptualized in a manner that will work, Theme three ImPACT program was implemented according to programming, theme four ImPACT has an impact on intended targets and Theme five Cost Effectiveness. The findings from the study provide District X and any other district implications of practice when implementing an ImPACT concussion program for their athletes and areas to consider when doing a program evaluation to ensure program success.


Author(s):  
John Kalama ◽  
◽  
Jacob Ogedi ◽  

This paper strived to unravel the impact of nonviolent counterterrorism measures on the internal security of African states with specific reference to Nigeria’s amnesty policy in Niger Delta region. The study adopted the rational choice theory of terrorism as its theoretical framework and derived its data from secondary sources which included official policy documents from, Nigeria’s amnesty office including textbooks, journal articles and internet materials etc. Data collected from these sources were analysed through qualitative method and content analysis. Findings from the study shows that nonviolent counterterrorism measures and strategies through post-conflict disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programmes have helped in resettling several ex-combatants and their families back to the society in several African states including Nigeria, Burundi, Rwanda, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) etc. In the same vein, the study observed that the use of military force (violent counterterrorism measures and strategies) by states has also helped to escalate and prolong conflicts in Africa. Some recommendations were made which included the need to strengthen civil-military relations especially in the area of intelligence gathering and dissemination. There is need for African states to also engage in counter-radicalization of their citizens through massive investments in education, public enlightenment and socio-economic development, and the provision of basic social amenities.


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