Global Polarization Theory Overview

Rational Choice Theory: An Overview

It seems easy to accept that rationality involves many features that cannot be summarized in terms of some straightforward formula, such as binary consistency.  However, this recognition does not immediately lead to alternative characterizations that might be regarded as satisfactory, even though the inadequacies of the traditional assumptions of rational behavior standard used in economic theo...

Rational Choice Theory: An Overview

It seems easy to accept that rationality involves many features that cannot be summarized in terms of some straightforward formula, such as binary consistency.  However, this recognition does not immediately lead to alternative characterizations that might be regarded as satisfactory, even though the inadequacies of the traditional assumptions of rational behavior standard used in economic theo...

A Theory of Political Polarization*

We present a simple theory of voters’ preferences over representatives, assuming that a representative will vote on one’s behalf. Few, if any elected representatives are capable of unilaterally implementing their platforms: rather, they choose between options generated by other actors and/or external events. When this is the case, voters’ preferences over candidates’ platforms will almost alway...

Overview of Measure Theory

The ideas presented in this theory are fairly general, but their utility will not be immediately visible. However, a general note is that we are trying to quantify how “small” or how “large” a set is. Recall that if a bounded function has only finitely many discontinuities, it is still Riemann-integrable. The Dirichlet function was an example of a function with uncountably many discontinuities,...

Overview of the Global System