Combined notes on the lectures and *SOME* required readings from the course (2023) Rational Choice Theory. *DISCLAIMER* does NOT include any of the lectures’ practice questions. INCLUDES notes from (Total: 38 pages):
Lectures 1-10.
Kenneth A. Shepsle’s textbook (2nd edition, 2010) “Anal...
Combined notes on the lectures and *SOME* required readings from the course (2023) Rational
Choice Theory. *DISCLAIMER* does NOT include any of the lectures’ practice questions. INCLUDES
notes from (Total: 38 pages):
● Lectures 1-10.
● Kenneth A. Shepsle’s textbook (2nd edition, 2010) “Analyzing Politics: Rationality, Behavior
and Institutions”, chapters 1 and 2 (2.1-2.8).
● Martin J. Osborne’s textbook (2003) “An Introduction to Game Theory”, chapters 1 and 2.
Rational Choice Theory Lecture Notes (Lectures 1-10) and *SOME*
Required Readings
Table of Contents
Lectures 1-10 1
Lectures 1 & 2: Introduction to Rational Choice Theory (RCT) 1
Lecture 3: Utility Function & Expected Utility Theory 5
Lecture 4: Foundation of Theories of Games & Strategic Interactions 6
Lecture 5: Theories of Games & Strategic Interactions (Part 1) 11
Lectures 6 & 7: Theories of Games & Strategic Interactions (Part 2) 14
“Analyzing Politics: Rationality, Behavior and Institutions” 29
Part 1: INTRODUCTION 29
1. It Isn't Rocket Science, but ... 29
2. Rationality: The Model of Choice 30
“An Introduction to Game Theory” 33
1. Introduction 33
I Games with Perfect Information 34
2. Nash Equilibrium: Theory 34
, 1
Lectures 1-10
Lectures 1 & 2: Introduction to Rational Choice Theory (RCT)
Introduction
Political science at the end of WWII:
● Thick descriptions.
● Normative component = many judgements about how it worked & the way the world should
work → Marxism, Liberalism, Capitalism.
● Political science = descriptive & judgmental > analytical.
How could we evaluate the merits of these claims?
● Judgments & speculation = subjective.
● Could we move toward a more objective approach?
○ Research’s subjectivity & objectivity = continuum (fuzzy theory).
○ NO pure objective social science research, BUT some prefer to minimise subjective
factors’ influence by scientific & standardised approaches + peer review process.
● Vienna Circle’s (20th century): Group of philosophers/scientists that promoted the idea of
“logical positivism/empiricism” = only prepositions verified through direct
observation/logical proof have meaning.
➔ Economists among the first groups who:
◆ Internalised & started applying logical positivism in social sciences =
impacted scientific research in different fields.
◆ Applied RCT to modern social issues.
Criticisms of RCT:
● Green & Shapiro = discrepancy between practitioners’ faith in RCT & its failure to deliver
empirically, warrants a closer inspection of RCT as a scientific enterprise.
● Perestroika Movement = dismantling of the Orwellian system in APSA.
Responses to criticisms: → problems with these arguments:
● Fiorina = how could political science have ● Empiricism ≠ RCT ≠ formal
prospered otherwise? (mathematical) modelling.
● Behavioural economics is offered to
● Shepsle = do NOT let go of something until
complement RCT.
you have something else to hold on to.
Tributes:
● Hume = Scottish philosopher in the Enlightenment who discussed utilitarianism & logical positivism.
● Ibn Khaldun = Tunisian philosopher & social scientist (process tracing), arguing good governance &
offering ethnographical analysis.
● Wittgenstein = Austrian philosopher → “nothing is so difficult as not deceiving oneself.”
Voordelen van het kopen van samenvattingen bij Stuvia op een rij:
Verzekerd van kwaliteit door reviews
Stuvia-klanten hebben meer dan 700.000 samenvattingen beoordeeld. Zo weet je zeker dat je de beste documenten koopt!
Snel en makkelijk kopen
Je betaalt supersnel en eenmalig met iDeal, creditcard of Stuvia-tegoed voor de samenvatting. Zonder lidmaatschap.
Focus op de essentie
Samenvattingen worden geschreven voor en door anderen. Daarom zijn de samenvattingen altijd betrouwbaar en actueel. Zo kom je snel tot de kern!
Veelgestelde vragen
Wat krijg ik als ik dit document koop?
Je krijgt een PDF, die direct beschikbaar is na je aankoop. Het gekochte document is altijd, overal en oneindig toegankelijk via je profiel.
Tevredenheidsgarantie: hoe werkt dat?
Onze tevredenheidsgarantie zorgt ervoor dat je altijd een studiedocument vindt dat goed bij je past. Je vult een formulier in en onze klantenservice regelt de rest.
Van wie koop ik deze samenvatting?
Stuvia is een marktplaats, je koop dit document dus niet van ons, maar van verkoper giacomoef. Stuvia faciliteert de betaling aan de verkoper.
Zit ik meteen vast aan een abonnement?
Nee, je koopt alleen deze samenvatting voor €8,99. Je zit daarna nergens aan vast.
