Theoretical and Applied Economics
No. 11 / 2014 (600)
Ontological constraints on rational irrationality: the case of electoral preferences
National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest, Romania
Abstract. This paper is concerned with Caplan’s (2000, 2001, 2006) rational irrationality model and its application on electoral preference formation. According to this model, individuals consume irrationality in a rational manner i.e. they maximize their total welfare through an exchange between their material and psychological welfare. Using the contributions of an important debate from the philosophy of economics regarding the imposition of ontological constraints on models, unrealistic assumptions and explanatory unification, two arguments are formulated: First, Caplan’s model is ontologically bewildered – it contains opposed statements about the psychological descriptiveness of rational irrationality. Second, even though Caplan is apparently aware of the tension between ontological and tractability considerations he seems to privilege the latter.
Keywords: rational irrationality, unrealistic assumptions, realism, ontological constraints, electoral preferences.
Contents
- Enhancing the capacity for innovation
of public administration.
An exploratory study on e-Governance, ICT,
knowledge management in Romania
Ani MATEI
Carmen SĂVULESCU
- Exchange rates and foreign exchange reserves
in Turkey: nonlinear and frequency domain
causality approach
Tayfur BAYAT
Mehmet SENTURK
Selim KAYHAN
- The challenges of accounting profession
as generated by controlling
Costantin ROMAN
Aureliana-Geta ROMAN
Elena MEIER
- A cross-country comparison of the personal income tax
systems progressivity
Cătălina COZMEI
Elena Claudia ŞERBAN
- Covered bonds vs. assets securitization
Silviu Eduard DINCĂ
- A mark-up model of inflation for Morocco
Hicham BENNOUNA
- Economic benefits of the infrastructure
projects implemented in the Reservation
of the Danube Delta Biosphere
Mihai PĂUNICĂ
- Ontological constraints on rational irrationality:
the case of electoral preferences
Mihai UNGUREANU
- Relationship between the misalignment
of the real exchange rate and capital flight
in the developing countries
Abdessalem GOUIDER
Ridha NOUIRA
- The leadership role of a local public administration CIO: the case of Bucharest
Cristina Elena NICOLESCU
Bogdan BERCEANU