A prospect-theory model of voter turnout

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
Year: 2019
Volume: 168
Issue: C
Pages: 362-373

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We incorporate prospect-theory preferences in a game-theoretic model to study voter turnout. We show that voter turnout is heavily affected by agents having subjective reference points with respect to the vote or abstain decision and their subjective probability weighting in the decision-making process. Using empirically based parameter values, we show that our model has lower prediction error than other game-theoretic models with standard expected-utility preferences. We also find that our model maintains desirable comparative statics effects and leads to higher turnout predictions in larger electorates.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jeborg:v:168:y:2019:i:c:p:362-373
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25