Chapter 2 Multiple choice questions

. Which of these statements is about spatial models of politics in FALSE?

Voters prefer outcomes that are closer to their own preferred outcome.

Spatial models allow us to always find a policy that the actors can agree upon.

We assume that the preferences of individuals can be plotted on one or more dimensions.

We often assume preferences of individuals are single-peaked in one dimension.

. Who is the median voter in the following policy space?
The level of spending on a public park extends from high to low on a continuum. The Median Voter C is in the center. A and B are to the left of C. D and E are to the right of C.

Voter C

Voter D

Voter F

Voter E

. Which of these is NOT an implication of the median voter theorem?

A policy most favoured by the median voter will always have a majority compared to other policy proposals.

Policy outcomes that reflect the position of the median voter are stable.

If there is an unequal number of individuals and preferences are single-peaked, there always exists a median voter.

The median voter will always be in the centre of the policy dimension.

. What is a status quo option in policy-making?

The policy most favoured by the median voter.

The policy that is currently in place.

The policy that will be implemented regardless of the process.

The policy that is favoured by the agenda setter.

. What does the term "shirking" commonly refer to in political science"?

A representative deviating from the promises she made previously.

A representative changing position to follow the will of her voters.

Several representatives working together to form a majority.

A representative being unqualified for her position.

. Which of the following assumptions belong to the theory of prospective voting?

Voters know that their party has done a good job in the past.

Voters know that a party is responsible for the current economic situation.

Voters know about the promises that parties makes during an election campaign.

Voters always stick to their party.

. Which of the following statements about cyclical majorities in politics is FALSE?

Even when individuals making up a group have transitive preferences, the group might not be able to make a decision that is preferred by the majority over all alternatives.

In a multi-dimensional policy space, majorities will always be cyclical unless one actor is the median voter on all dimensions.

The existence of cyclical majorities was proven by McKelvey.

Cyclical majorities can be avoided through direct democracy instruments, e.g. letting people vote directly which option they want.

. Who is the median voter for each of the two dimensions in the following policy space?
The graph plots access to non-stop payers from Open to None, versus the level of spending on the public park from high to low. The points on the graph are A, B, C, D, and E. A is at high, open; B is at medium, medium. C is at medium, none. D is at above medium, medium. E is at low, open. All values are estimated.

The graph plots access to non-stop payers from Open to None, versus the level of spending on the public park from high to low. The points on the graph are A, B, C, D, and E. A is at high, open; B is at medium, medium. C is at medium, none. D is at above medium, medium. E is at low, open. All values are estimated.

Level of spending: D, Access: B.

Level of spending: C, Access: C.

Level of spending: D, Access: C.

Level of spending: C, Access: E.

. Three friends are trying to decide where to go for dinner. Individually, they have the following preference structure:
Adam: Pub > Steakhouse > Pizzeria
Beth: Pizzeria > Pub > Steakhouse
Clara: Steakhouse > Pizzeria > Pub
They decide to vote on each of the combinations, so Pizzeria versus Steakhouse, then Steakhouse versus Pub and so on. Which of the options will they decide on?

The Pub

The Steakhouse

The Pizzeria

They can't decide because the situation is an example of Condorcet's Paradox.

. What is NOT correct about the overlapping area between the two indifference curves in the following graph?
The graph plots Access to non-taxpayers from open to none, versus the level of spending on the public park from high to low. There is a large circle in the bottom-left with its center at B. There is another small circle at the medium-right with its center at D. The intersection of the two circles is at S Q at the top.

The graph plots Access to non-taxpayers from open to none, versus the level of spending on the public park from high to low. There is a large circle in the bottom-left with its center at B. There is another small circle at the medium-right with its center at D. The intersection of the two circles is at S Q at the top.

A and B are indifferent between the points inside the overlapping area.

Both A and B prefer alternatives in the area of overlap to the status quo.

If B was the agenda setter, she would propose a point close to her own position inside the overlapping area.

If any proposal outside the overlapping area was proposed and unanimous voting is used, A and B would stick with the status quo.

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