US Democracy, Voting Rights, and Electoral Behavior: Key Concepts and Historical Events

What factors contribute to the pessimism about the value of democracy?

Money in politics, growing polarization, electoral autocracies, and unfounded allegations of election fraud.

What significant amendment granted women the right to vote in the US?

The 19th Amendment

What was the impact of female enfranchisement on public health spending?

It led to a 35% increase in local public health spending.

What historical period saw the implementation of literacy tests to disenfranchise Black citizens?

The Reconstruction period after the US Civil War.

What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlaw?

Literacy tests used to disenfranchise voters.

What was the main outcome of interest in the study of the Voting Rights Act?

Per capita transfers from state governments to local governments.

What was a preliminary outcome measured before and after the Voting Rights Act?

Voter turnout from 1952-1980.

What effect did the Voting Rights Act have on voter turnout in affected states?

It led to an increase in voter turnout.

What does a higher voter turnout contribute to in a democracy?

Improved representation and legitimacy.

What percentage of voter turnout was recorded in the 2024 US election?

64%

What is one reason why people choose to vote?

To influence election and policy outcomes.

How did changes in the electorate composition affect political parties?

They modified the identity of the median voter, affecting party platforms and policies.

What was a notable response by Congress to the enfranchisement of women?

The passing of a landmark federal public health appropriation bill in 1921.

What historical event is associated with the disenfranchisement of Black citizens through literacy tests?

The Jim Crow laws.

What was the effect of female voting on child mortality according to Miller (2008)?

It reduced child mortality.

What is a key factor in formulating policies to increase voter turnout?

Understanding the drivers of political participation.

What is the significance of the Voting Rights Act in US history?

It aimed to eliminate barriers to voting for Black citizens.

What does the term 'electoral autocracies' refer to?

Governments that hold elections but do not ensure fair and free voting processes.

What was the literacy test characterized as in the context of disenfranchisement?

A test of skin color rather than of actual literacy.

What does the study of voter turnout reveal about public policy?

Changes in voter turnout can have a meaningful impact on public policy.

What is the relationship between voter turnout and public health spending?

Higher voter turnout can lead to increased public health spending.

What does the term 'female enfranchisement' refer to?

The granting of voting rights to women.

What paradox challenges the rational choice theory regarding voting?

Voter turnout is referred to as 'the paradox that ate rational choice theory' by Morris Fiorina.

What is the formula for determining if a person should vote based on their expected benefit?

A person should vote if pB - C > 0, where p is the probability their vote is pivotal.

What does the variable 'p' represent in the voting model?

The probability that a person's vote changes the outcome.

What significant event highlighted the concept of pivotal voting in the 2000 election?

Florida was the pivotal state, with George W. Bush winning by just 537 votes.

What is one reason people might enjoy voting despite its negligible impact?

The act of voting can make them feel happy or fulfilled.

What does the variable 'D' represent in the voting happiness model?

The happiness that a person derives from voting.

What study examined the impact of civic duty reminders on voter turnout?

Gerber, Green, and Larimer (2008) conducted randomized interventions before the 2006 primary election.

What type of reminders were found to be most effective in increasing voter turnout?

Reminders that emphasized visibility and social pressure.

What did DellaVigna et al. (2017) study regarding voter participation?

They conducted door-to-door surveys about participation in the 2010 congressional elections.

What was a key finding from DellaVigna et al.'s research on voter honesty?

30-50% of non-voters lied about voting, while 10-15% of voters also lied.

How can the cost of voting affect turnout?

Higher costs may discourage voting, while mandatory voting laws can increase turnout.

What are the consequences of not voting in Peru?

Non-voters face fines and restrictions on access to government and financial services.

What impact does compulsory voting have on voter turnout in Peru?

Compulsory voting leads to higher voter turnout, especially among younger people.

What happens to voter turnout when the fine for not voting is increased?

An increase in fines raises voter turnout but also increases the number of spoiled votes.

What is a significant factor affecting the effectiveness of compulsory voting?

The expressive function of the law, indicating undesirable behavior when laws are broken.

What are the implications of large changes in the electorate composition?

They can lead to meaningful changes in election and policy outcomes.

What psychological factors drive voting behavior?

Civic duty and perceptions of others significantly influence the decision to vote.

What must policies aimed at increasing voter turnout consider?

They must account for the interaction between different types of incentives.

What is a coordination problem?

A situation where individuals must choose the same action to achieve a positive outcome.

What is the payoff for players who coordinate successfully?

+1 for going to the same place and -1 for going to different places.

What are the two Nash equilibria in the gym vs. smoothie example?

(Smoothie, Smoothie) and (Gym, Gym).

How can coordination problems be solved?

Through communication among the participants.

What issue did voters face in the 2002 French Presidential election?

Left-wing votes split among multiple candidates, leading to a disadvantage against the right-wing candidate.

What is the first-past-the-post voting system?

A system where only the candidate with the most votes wins, and others receive nothing.

What is the purpose of the website votewell.ca?

To help left-leaning voters coordinate by identifying the party with the best chance of winning in their district.

What happens in coordination problems without communication?

Participants must rely on focal points or common knowledge to coordinate.

What are focal points in coordination problems?

Recognizable solutions that participants can agree upon without communication.

Who wrote about focal points in coordination?

Thomas Schelling in his book 'The Strategy of Conflict'.

What did Thomas Schelling win the Nobel Prize for?

Enhancing our understanding of conflict and cooperation.

What is the significance of the American vs. Metric system example?

It illustrates coordination problems with conflicting interests among players.

In the HEADS or TAILS game, what are the payoffs for choosing HEADS?

Player A gets 1.5 points and Player B gets 0.5 points.

What happens if players choose differently in the HEADS or TAILS game?

Neither player receives any points.

What is a coordination trap?

A situation where individuals fail to coordinate effectively, leading to inefficient outcomes.

What is the role of social media in coordination?

Social media can serve as a tool for coordination in larger groups.

What is the challenge of coordination in larger groups?

It requires more sophisticated coordination devices than simple communication.

How can common knowledge facilitate coordination?

Participants can use shared understanding or expectations to make decisions without direct communication.

What is an example of a coordination problem in everyday life?

Deciding where to meet with a friend without prior communication.

What is the impact of conflicting interests on coordination?

It complicates the ability to reach a mutually beneficial outcome.

What is the significance of the diagonal choices in the matrix game?

They often represent focal points that participants gravitate towards in the absence of communication.

What is the outcome of successful coordination?

All participants achieve a better payoff than if they had acted independently.

What does the term 'collective action' refer to?

Efforts by a group to achieve a common goal, often requiring coordination.

What is the relationship between coordination and efficiency?

Effective coordination can lead to more efficient outcomes in collective action scenarios.

What is the main theme of Module IV?

Exploring coordination problems and their implications in political science.

What is the objective of the first game mentioned?

Players must write down the letters A, B, C in any order, and if all players in a group write them in the same order, they earn bonus points.

What bonus points do players receive based on their letter order?

1.5 points for the first letter, 1 point for the second letter, and 0.5 points for the third letter.

What does Schelling conclude about participants in coordination games?

Participants can solve their problems better than chance methods would allow.

What is the parachutist game designed to explore?

The interplay between communication and coordination in the presence of conflicting interests.

In Case 1 of the parachutist game, what are the rules?

Players know their own location but cannot communicate, and they win a bonus point if they arrive at the same location.

What changes in Case 2 of the parachutist game?

Players can communicate, but moving is costly, and they lose points for each cell crossed.

What happens in Case 3 of the parachutist game?

Players cannot communicate, and moving remains costly, with no points awarded if they do not find each other.

What is unique about Case 4 in the parachutist game?

Player 2 knows Player 1's location, but there is still no communication allowed.

What is the scenario in Case 5 of the parachutist game?

Only Player 2 can send a message to Player 1, while moving remains costly.

What focal point do players use when interests are aligned without communication?

Players presumably use the middle cell or top left corner as a focal point.

What does the analysis of Case 2 suggest about communication?

Players can split the cost when fully able to communicate.

What does Case 3 reveal about communication and advantage?

It may benefit one player to be unable to communicate.

What is the implication of Case 4 regarding information asymmetry?

Having less information can be beneficial in certain coordination scenarios.

What does the analysis of the U.S.-Iran crisis illustrate?

States may signal limits to escalation even without overt negotiation.

What are 'red lines' in the context of tacit bargaining?

They serve as focal points for coordination without formal agreements.

How does female labor force participation relate to coordination traps?

Men overestimate other men's aversion to wives working, which prevents women from working outside the home.

What experiment did Bursztyn et al. (2020) conduct regarding female labor force participation?

They measured beliefs about female labor participation and provided access to a job service website for women.

What conclusion can be drawn about collective action problems?

Many involve coordination, and solutions may include communication or third-party intervention.

What role do focal points play in coordination without communication?

People rely on focal points to coordinate even when interests conflict.

What is necessary to shift an equilibrium in a coordination trap?

Changing expectations about others is required to shift the equilibrium.