This paper compares neural network models with the standard logit and probit models, the most widely used choice/classi cation models in current empirical research, and explores the application of neural network models in analyzing political choice/classi cation problems. Political relationships are usually nonlinear and of unknown functional forms, and political data are likely noisy. The logi...

There can be little doubt that Rational Choice Theory (RCT) with its emphasis on the 'instrumentally rational' individual as the foundation of the political process has significantly enhanced the scope of political science. This paper details many of the areas of political science in which our understanding of events has been significantly enhanced by the application of RCT. But, in the end, RC...

Prospect theory is an alternative theory of choice under conditions of risk, and deviates from expected utility theory by positing that people evaluate choices with respect to gains and losses from a reference point. They tend to overweight losses with respect to comparable gains and engage in risk-averse behavior with respect to gains and risk-acceptant behavior with respect to losses. They al...

Article history: Received 7 August 2014 Received in revised form 20 June 2015 Accepted 29 June 2015 Available online 9 July 2015 This study investigates whether a firm with strong corporate governance (CG) requires political connections (PCs), that is, we examine whether CG and PC substitute for or complement each other. Using 71,069 individual bank loan contracts from Taiwan, we examine how lo...

Recent research has found a surprising degree of homogeneity in the personal political communication network of individuals but this work has focused largely on the tendency to sort into likeminded social, workplace, and residential political contexts. We extend this line of research into one of the most fundamental and consequential of political interactions – that between sexual mates. Using ...

Information can fulfill a new and essential purpose in our culture – serve as guidelines for making conscious choices (choices that are made with awareness of their consequences). In the article it is specified in what way the information for conscious choice can be created and what characteristics it needs to have. A model of the relationship between information and economic and political powe...

There is an unfortunate paradox that arises when proand anti-choice advocates talk about disabilities such as Down syndrome or spina bifida. The paradox works this way: On one hand, reproductive rights proponents can portray disability as a tragic state that justifies abortion—even for wanted pregnancies. At the same time, anti-choice advocates proclaim their value for all life, including indiv...

is paper uses a formal electoral model as the basis for discussion of various political episodes in British and US history and to evaluate the logic of Madison’s argument about the republican scheme of government. is leads to the inference that political choice involves electoral judgment as well as preference. e stochastic electoral model is extended to incorporate the basis of judgment, namel...

The conventional wisdom on german politics is that in response to the political volatility of the Weimar Republic, the architects of the post–World War II political system valued stability above all other concerns. As a consequence of this preference, the Basic Law introduces numerous veto points in the political process and counterbalances a strong executive branch, headed by the chancellor a...