This paper formulates a simple mathematical framework for the selection of an optimum "relative unanimity” collective decision rule. The approach is first to identify the benefits of moving from a rule of simple majority towards a rule of full unanimity. Then, the costs of moving from simple...

This study empirically finds, using ECM, that the primary federal budget deficit shares a bi-directional relationship with the ex ante real interest rate yield on long term municipal bonds. That is, the primary budget deficit acts to raise the real municipal bond yield whereas that yield also...

This empirical note reformulates a model for testing the hypothesis that migration of the poor and welfare levels are bi-directionally related. After correcting for co-linearity in a previous model, the new model yields two-stage least squares estimates that affirm the hypothesis once again.

This study provides recent empirical evidence on the impact of the federal budget deficit on the nominal long term mortgage interest rate yield in the U.S. The study is couched within a loanable funds model that includes the cost to financial institutions of borrowing funds, expected inflation,...

This theoretical note argues that although both gross costs and possible gross benefits from the Electoral College can be identified, they cannot be compared in such a way as to generate a case that the Electoral College yields net benefits to society. In other words, the Electoral College...

This study empirically examines the impact of the federal government budget on the nominal interest rate yield on US Treasury notes over the 1979-2001 period. In a system that includes the monetary base, the civilian labor force unemployment rate, the ex ante real 52 week Treasury bill rate, and...

This study seeks to expand the scope of that portion of Public Choice courses that involves voting behavior. The study broadens the interpretation of the "rational voter model" so as to include the potential effects of "direct democracy" on the voter participation rate. Direct democracy is...

This study provides a simple interpretation and extension of the Rational Voter Model (RVM), one which enables students in Public Choice classes to easily understand its application in a real-world context. In doing so, the presentation identifies key aggregate-level economic and non-economic...

This study provides a preliminary empirical investigation as to whether black-consumer voters were attracted by the prospect of higher AFDC benefits as they made interstate migration decisions over the 1970-75 time period. Unlike most previous studies, there was no compelling evidence of such a...