Economics (MindTap Course List)
13th Edition
ISBN: 9781337617383
Author: Roger A. Arnold
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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Question
Chapter 31, Problem 1QP
To determine
Median voter model and its exceptions.
Expert Solution & Answer
Explanation of Solution
The median voter model refers to a two-person contest where the endeavor of political candidates matches the median voter’s preferences. The two politicians, Barry Goldwater (1964) and George McGovern (1972), are at the right and left end of the two ranges from middle, respectively. These two candidates may fall into the middle of the two ranges. However, it is difficult to find out the middle. Thus, it is necessary to note the activities of respective political parties in the next years.
During the presidential election of 1964, the Republican Party with Goldwater suffered a defeat and party chooses a candidate Richard Nixon, who is nearer to the middle of the two ranges. During the election of 1968, the Republican Party wins.
During the election of 1972, the Democratic Party suffered a defeat with George McGovern and party chooses a candidate, Jimmy Carter, who is nearer to the middle of the two ranges and wins in the election of 1976.
Thus, these are not necessarily exceptions to the theory of median voter but correct statements.
Economics Concept Introduction
Median voter model: Median voter model refers to a two-person contest where the endeavor of political candidates matches the median voter’s preferences.
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Students have asked these similar questions
All of the following statements are true about median voter theory, except:
Select the correct answer below:
The median voter is in the middle of the political spectrum.
The effects of the U.S. sugar lobby supports median voter theory.
Median voter theory suggests that if a candidate needs more than 50% to win an election, the best
way to win is to have median preferences.
The median voter theory argues that politicians will try to match policies to what pleases the
median voter preferences.
Alienation and the Median-Voter Rule. Consider the example of the ice cream vendors on the beach. Suppose that people are unwilling to walk more than 1/4 mile for an ice-cream cone. As a
starting point, suppose both sellers locate at the median location, at the 1/2 mark
a. Fill in the blanks in the following table to indicate the number of customers. (Enter your responses as integers.)
Starting point median location
Lefty moves to 1/4 mile mark
Righty moves to 3/4 mile mark
Location Lefty Location Righty
Quantity Lefty Quantity Righty
12
1/2
1/4
1/2
1/4
3/4
Explain why majority rule respects the preferencesof the median voter rather than those of the averagevoter.
Chapter 31 Solutions
Economics (MindTap Course List)
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