Name:_______________________

 

 

Instructions:

 

�        You have 2 hours, 45 minutes to complete this exam.�

�        Write all answers directly on the exam.

�        You may use any books, notes, or other materials that you wish, but avoid spending too much time on any one question.�

�        Partial credit may be awarded on all questions.�

�        The maximum possible number of points is 200.

�        You should have 7 pages, counting this one, PLUS one page with a regression.

 

Part 1: True, False, and Explain

(10 points each - 2 for the right answer, and 8 for the explanation)

State whether each of the following six propositions is true or false.� In 2-3 sentences (and clearly-labeled diagrams, when helpful), explain why.

 

1.� T, F, and Explain:� Productively inefficient firms have a weaker incentive to lobby for monopolies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Optimal tax theory does not take account of individual's ability to pay.

 

T, F, and Explain:� Coincidentally, however, optimal tax theory advises against taxing "necessities" - on which the poor spend an especially large fraction of their income.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. T, F, and Explain:� In a simple median voter framework, divergence between mean and median preferences can lead to platform divergence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.� Overall, men and older people score higher on tests of political knowledge.

 

T, F, and Explain:� As you would expect, Delli Carpini and Keeter find that the male-female knowledge gap is smallest on gender issues, and the age gap is smallest on knowledge of current events.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.� Poole and Rosenthal find that voting in the U.S. Congress has usually been one-dimensional

 

T, F, and Explain:� This finding moderately bolsters Wittman's case for democratic efficiency.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.� Caplan argues that at least after adjusting for self-serving and ideological bias, belief gaps between economists and the public should be interpreted as irrationality on the part of the public.

 

T, F, and Explain:� One implication is that upwardly mobile people are more rational than the rest of the population.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 2: Short Essays

(20 points each)

In half a page each, answer all of the following questions.

 

1.� Largely due to technological change, women's wages have risen relative to men's since 1900.� Keeping in mind the "market for marriage," analyze the ultimate incidence of this change for men.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.� Does rational irrationality provide an extra argument in favor of federalism?� Why or why not?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 "Much of the (limited) evidence in favor of the SIVH can be reinterpreted as group-interested voting."� Discuss this statement, using an empirical example from either Peltzman or Sears and Funk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.� Members of third parties often accuse Democrats and Republicans of "collusion" against the public.� Discuss TWO forms of evidence believers in collusion would advance to prove their case.� How would Wittman respond to this evidence?

5.� The SAEE asks respondents if they think that "Too many people are on welfare" is "a major reason the economy is not doing better than it is, a minor reason, or not a reason at all."

 

0="Lower"; 1="About the same"; 2="Higher"

 

The next page shows a regression of responses to this question on some respondent characteristics.� Carefully explain the ways in which the results are empirically typical of public opinion in general and beliefs about economics in particular.� Are there any exceptions to the usual rules?� If so, what are they?� What is your best guess for why they appear in this regression?

 

6.� Does Kuran and Sunstein's theory of availability cascades shed any new light on Zaller's work on the mainstream and polarization effect?� Explain, using an example from Zaller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.� Use Brennan and Lomasky to undermine my defense of free-market anarchism.