The Selfless Voter: Altruism and Irrationality in Economic Voting

Author

John Byrne, Ursinus CollegeFollow

Submission Date

7-23-2021

Document Type

Paper

Department

Politics

Faculty Mentor

Ann Karreth

Comments

Presented during the 23rd Annual Summer Fellows Symposium, July 23, 2021 at Ursinus College.

Project Description

Traditionally, we have assumed that voters choose the candidates and policy platforms that benefit them the most. So why can we observe people doing the exact opposite and acting, seemingly, irrationally by voting their money away? This project examines the power of altruism in voting and whether or not voters actually place the needs of others over themselves at the polls.

Recommended Citation

Byrne, John, "The Selfless Voter: Altruism and Irrationality in Economic Voting" (2021). Politics Summer Fellows. 9.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/pol_sum/9