Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Ignorance Or Irrationality On Free Trade?
Peter Gordon notes a service provided by the Cato Institute that summarizes the votes of members of Congress with respect to free trade issues.
He suggests the opportunity cost of choosing to becoming a more informed voter has decreased:
How much of a difference do you think this kind of change in technology will make in elections and public policy?
Does this change in technology provide any basis for distinguishing between whether voters tend to choose ignorance or irrationality?
Consider that Colorado's Senators seem to be opposites on trade issues with Senator Allard tending to be a Free Trader while Senator Salazar seems to tend toward being an Interventionist. What might public choice theory say about such a result of the election process?
He suggests the opportunity cost of choosing to becoming a more informed voter has decreased:
Rational voters may under-invest in due diligence but when modern communications lower its cost, we have to appreciate progress.
How much of a difference do you think this kind of change in technology will make in elections and public policy?
Does this change in technology provide any basis for distinguishing between whether voters tend to choose ignorance or irrationality?
Consider that Colorado's Senators seem to be opposites on trade issues with Senator Allard tending to be a Free Trader while Senator Salazar seems to tend toward being an Interventionist. What might public choice theory say about such a result of the election process?
