Prof. Bryan Caplan

bcaplan@gmu.edu

http://www.bcaplan.com

Econ 849

 

HW #4

 

1.  Collect data on ONE item of public opinion or voter preference from the General Social Survey, and empirically test for the relative explanatory power of the SIVH, group-interest, and ideology.  Then write a brief note explaining your topic, method, and results.  (2 pages, double-spaced, plus tables)

 

To get data from the GSS, go to: http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/GSS.  Once you know what variables you want to examine, click on Analyze.  Then select "Analysis," then "Multiple Regression."

 

2.  Write a referee report on one published empirical paper of your choice about voter motivation and/or ideology.  How convincing are the authors' empirical methods?  Why?  How could the paper have been improved?  What new directions would you recommend for further research on the topic?  (2 pages, double-spaced)

 

3.  Select a theoretical paper on some sort of "political failure."  Pretending you are Donald Wittman, critique the paper's thesis.  What are the objectionable assumptions that drive the results?  (2 pages, double-spaced)