WEEK 3 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (sum2010)

[LydiaGrate]

1. According to the lectures, collective action is one of the primary functions of government. It serves to main the public goods in order to best serve the group. Some issues that can arise from problems/conflicts with collective action are the tragedy of the commons, and the free rider problem. There are also several costs associated with collective action.

Tragedy of the commons occurs as a result of greed, when individuals try to exploit public goods. Another example is free riders, which use more than their fair share of goods, or don’t pay their portion of the production costs.

Some costs associated with collective action are transaction costs and conformity costs. Transaction costs are the additional components of the price of an item. They can include things like time and energy. Conformity costs occur when primary/ideal decisions must be compromised.
Collective action demonstrates the many considerations the government must make. It also explains the need for a government in order to regulate public goods. Because there are so many issues with collective action, an entity like government is often needed to step in and manage many resources.
2. A Nash equilibrium is helpful in determining/assessing collective action problems. It specifically identifies when no “players” have an incentive to change strategies. This is extremely important in understanding the motives/options in order to make the most effective decisions. It also is extremely beneficial in finding the best compromises for situations.
3. Fascist societies often have a negative connotation because this idea was highly popularized in Nazi Germany. While fascist governments are highly totalitarianistic, there can be benefits to them. Since fascist governments are highly centralized, it can be fairly easy and quick to pass laws. If fascist societies are ruled by people that legitimately care about the interests of the people, this could be extremely beneficial. However, as demonstrated in Germany, fascist societies can just as easily be taken over by the wrong people.
Socialism is a form of government that values the common people. It aims to eliminate the major discrepancies between the rich and poor. One description of socialism is that “nobody should be able to purchase their second house, until everyone can purchase one.” While socialism can even the playing field, complete socialism becomes very close to communism, by creating such a large amount of government control.
Capitalism is highly utilized in American society. It is based on the idea that business and the economy are highly regulatory forces. It also strives on Darwin’s principles of survival of the fittest. Capitalism creates much competition, which can also have negative effects, though. It can create a widened gap in wealth/prosperity among the people, and create many class divisions within society.
4. The proportional and the first-past-the-post electoral systems have vast differences. In the proportional system, diverse ideas can be represented to allow citizens the opportunity to vote on specific issues. However, many politicians realize this, and will simply cater to the median issues. First-past-the-post systems always provide a winning candidate; however, they don’t necessarily have to reach a majority of votes. Therefore, if there are too many parties, a winner could be reached with a minority of voters.
5. Bureaucracies are utilized in governments to regulate and handle basic functions. They can often become tedious, but are essential in creating a hierarchy of authority. This creates a change of command within the governmental system. However, when bureaucracies became too complex, it requires much more effort to get things done. Also, there is a much smaller amount of unanimity between different divisions/areas. Interest groups capitalize on this by focusing on one issue, and try to push that through the established chain of command.

[Sarah Decker]

What are bueuracracies and what are they for? How do they relate to interest groups? Are they good...bad...or just necessary?

Bureaucracies are pretty much necessary in just about every government form. They do the mundane task that no politician wants to do or has the time to do. They are the ones that enforce the policies set forth by the legislature. They are made up of people who specialize in the field in which they operate. They are not people that just walk in off the street and fill out an application or got the job because their father in law is the boss. Without bureaucracies the people that we elect into offices who not be able to do anything but enforce the laws. Also, bureaucracies are highly rule originated. Without all the rules then people would be able to bend the rules into what ever they felt they should be or could be. I love the book reference to the DMV. But the book also made a good point for bureaucracies in the reference to building codes. Without bureaucracies, when you go to by a home you wouldn't know whether it was up to codes and standards because there wouldn't be anyone to inspect them and make sure that the contractor building the home had used all the right materials that the standards require.

On a side not. I just love this book!!! It has kept me laughing through the whole thing and has really made learning all this stuff quite easy. Thank you Prof. Gooch!!!

[amarble1]

hrogers5,

I really disagree with you statement about the electoral college being a flawed system. I can understand how you would feel this way, but the EC prevents small states like Arkansas from being neglected by candidates. If the presidency were decided solely by popular vote, candidates would spend nearly all of their time in states like Texas, California, New York, Florida, and Illinois while states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and Arkansas would go completely unnoticed. The EC was another brilliant institution by our founders that provides for yet another of the extremely necessary checks and balances in our government. Like I said in a previous post, the mob rule of democracy can, at times, be a terrible thing in terms of representation and equality. Besides, the EC nearly always sides with the popular vote anyway.

[amarble1]

I've tried to post this a couple times but have had trouble with my internet connection this morning. Sorry if it posted twice. I found it relevant given our discussion on bureaucracies (and the size of government as a result).


"The States can best govern our home concerns and the general government our foreign ones. I wish, therefore ... never to see all offices transferred to Washington, where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they may more secretly be bought and sold at market." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Judge William Johnson, 1823

[hayley.lankford]

1. What is collective action? What are some of the problems that can arise in unregulated situations in producing optimal collective action results? What does this tell us about the role of government?
- Collective action is the pursuit of a goal or set of goals by more than one person; a theory that is concerned with the provision of public goods through the collaboration of two or more individuals, and the impact of externalities on group behavior. In unregulated situations, people for the collective good can get too aggressive. This can cause outbreaks and riotous behavior. The government has to have some regulation on things in order to maintain peace.
2. What is a Nash Equilibrium and why do we care about them?
- A Nash Equilibrium is an optimal collective strategy where no player has anything to gain by unilaterally changing his or her own strategy. This is important and we care about it because, in essence, when in a group each person is making the best decision that he or she can, taking into account the decisions of the others. This is working together and for the group to achieve a common goal.
3. Consider the different democratic electoral systems. What distinguishes proportional systems from first-past-the-post systems? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each?
- In Proportional Systems votes are cast for the party, not for the candidate who is running. In the First-Past-The-Post System the vote is cast for the candidate, not for the party. The vote is cast for the individual. If a person has some ideals that appeal to both parties they have a greater chance.l
4. What are bureaucracies and what are they for? How do they relate to interest groups? Are they good...bad...or just necessary?
- Bureaucracy is the position within the political administrative structure – the desk, not the person – that defines the role or function to be performed.

[fdougan@atu.edu]

What is a Nash Equilibrium and why do we care about them?

A Nash Equilibrium is a set of mixed strategies for fixed, non-cooperative games between two or more players whereby no player can improve his or her payoff by changing their strategy. Each player's strategy is an 'optimal' response based on the anticipated rational strategy of the other player(s) in the game. I think it is interesting because it somehow like tic-tac-toe, the challenge of winning keeps you addicted to the game.

Consider the different democratic electoral systems. What distinguishes proportional systems from first-past-the-post systems? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each?

The proportional system, also referred to as full representation, is an electoral system in which all of the votes reflect the overall outcome of the body or bodies of representation. This form of representation requires a close competition between the percentage of votes received by political parties and the number of seats they obtain.
First-past-the-post- systems, also known as plurality systems are systems where whoever gets the most votes wins.
Proportional systems lead to primarily a two-party system, which could lead to voters having a limited choice of candidates to choose from. First-past-the-post systems are systems where voters merely vote for the candidates instead of their party affiliation. PR systems promote party development while FPPS systems focus on single issues.

[lsimpson]

What is collective action? What are some of the problems that can arise in unregulated situations in producing optimal collective action results? What does this tell us about the role of government?
Collective action is group action that is designed to achieve a common goal that individuals on there own could not achieve. The problem with collective action that individuals with more power are most likely to get the benefits thna those weaker. I think this tells us about the government that the people that make our rules are not always looking out for the best interests of the people.

What is a Nash Equilibrium and why do we care about them?
Nash Equilibrium is an optimal colledtive strategy where no player has anything to gain unilaterly changing only his or her own strategy. Games like these help us better understand the nature of collective action and help us find solutins to these problems.

Consider the political economy of the major systems of the twentith century: fascism, communism, socialism, and capitalism. How do they organize economic relations in society and what are their merits (if any) and demerits (if any)?
Facism, Communism, Socialism are systems were you have to give all that you have to the government with the intent that it will be better for society as a whole. Capitalism is a system were you work hard and you get to keep most of what you make.

Consider the different democratic electoral systems. What distinguishes proportional systems from first-past-the-post systems? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each?
Proportional systems in which there is representation of all parties in a legislature in proportion to their popular vote. First-part-the -post system is an electoral system where the candiate with the most votes wins regardless of whether that person has a majority of the votes cast there is no run-off election.

What are bueuracracies and what are they for? How do they relate to interest groups? Are they good...bad...or just necessary?
Bueuracracies are the is the political structure that defines the role or function to be performed. I think that is necessary so that the government is always working and evolving.

[lrico]

1. What is collective action? What are some of the problems that can arise in unregulated situations in producing optimal collective action results? What does this tell us about the role of government Collective action is designed to achieve a common goal that individuals acting on their own could not otherwise obtain.
2. What is a Nash Equilibrium and why do we care about them? Nash Equilibrium is a solution concept of a game involving two or more players, in which each player is assumed to know the equilibrium strategies of the other players, and no player has anything to gain by changing only his or her own strategy unilaterally. It makes it stably for some people to use it and we can try to defeat our opponent with it
3. Consider the political economy of the major systems of the twentith century: fascism, communism, socialism, and capitalism. How do they organize economic relations in society and what are their merits (if any) and demerits (if any)? Communism - An economic system based on "you put in your fair share; you get your fair share". Capitalism is also externally stable, in that survival in a capitalistic system requires innovation and flexibility to keep up with the changes in supply and demand. Such a system is generally prepared to deal with the influx of competition from external sources. But it has several disadvantages such as it is not acceptable in most modern societies to allow portions of their population to be "culled". Socialism is the economic system based on "you get a share regardless of your contribution". One of it up is that Members that cannot participate economically - due to disabilities, age, or periods of poor health - can still impart wisdom, emotional support and continuity of experience to the system. Disadvantages of Socialism Since there is no culling and no economic advantage to working harder, socialistic systems provide no inherent incentive to participate. This makes socialism internally unstable.
4. Consider the different democratic electoral systems. What distinguishes proportional systems from first-past-the-post systems? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each? They are usually on a ballot and they can be for a single person or multiply party. They are some disadvantages it that not everyone goes out and votes and they can be miscounted and people can cheat. It’s a faster way to put everyone in the ballot and a way to be sure and recount.
5. What are bueuracracies and what are they for? How do they relate to interest groups? Are they good...bad...or just necessary? Bureaucracy is the combined organizational structure, procedures, protocols, and set of regulations in place to manage activity, usually in large organizations. I believe that they are just necessary because without them ever office or business would fall and go bankrupted and one place would get more money than the other and it’s a great way that proves work for people.

[lmarshall3]

1.it is the pursuit of a goal or set of goals by more than one person. It is a term which has formulations and theories in many areas of the social sciences.
2.Investopedia defnes it as "A concept of game theory where the optimal outcome of a game is one where no player has an incentive to deviate from his or her chosen strategy after considering an opponent's choice. Overall, an individual can receive no incremental benefit from changing actions, assuming other players remain constant in their strategies. A game may have multiple Nash equilibria or none at all."

[ksouder]

What are bureaucracies and what are they for? How do they relate to interest groups? Are they good...bad...or just necessary

I think they are necessary. Many times rules that the average Joe has not the slightest care or knowledge of in his workplace are still there to protect him because of someone that specializes in human resources and rights is holding our government to its rules and laws. I can see where they could be considered bad if a certain law or ruling is needed to secure rights to a minority group and it is being held up in red tape. I think that is where bureaucracies and politics collide into what many people think as a the overall definition of bureaucracies is. However, in reality most people just don't understand enough about their own local government to even begin to try and get a big word like bureaucracy. More-over I think that watching people duke it out on t.v. and the word comes up as a negative to do with government...hence people assume the worst because politics are dirty right? just my thoughts anyone else got one??