Similar to economists’ portrayal of individuals making choices in the private market, political scientists can represent political agents as self-interested rational maximisers when making choices in the public market. This approach is usually called public choice, i.e., the use of economic tools in political science research. Building on the integration of rational choice, social choice, and game theory, this course is a comprehensive overview of public choice and the important theoretical and empirical contributions of the field to our understanding of diverse political phenomena—e.g., state formation, democratic decision-making, collective action, public goods and distributive politics, voting methods and electoral systems, political behaviour, coalition governance, and interstate conflicts. Among other things, we will learn: 1. the extent to which the political realm differs from the economic; 2. the relation between individual self-interest and collective welfare, and; 3. how the motivations of individuals affect the outcome of their collective decision-making under different political institutions.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Identify and debate the assumptions and limitations of public choice theory applied to political science research;
2. Use the principles of public choice theory to enhance our understanding of diverse political phenomena---e.g., democratic decision-making, state formation and capacity, collective action, public goods, voting methods and electoral systems, how political institutions constrain individual and group behaviours, among others; and;
3. Develop the ability to think and write coherently, logically, and creatively about public choice and politics in the academic style associated with the discipline.

Research-Led Teaching

The course provides the necessary tools for the students to acquire knowledge and skills to: identify and debate the assumptions and limitations of public choice theory applied to

political science research; use the principles of public choice theory to enhance their understanding of diverse political phenomena; develop their ability to think and write coherently, logically, and creatively about public choice and politics in the academic style associated with the discipline, and; apply the theories and techniques from this course in their research paper.

Examination Material or equipment

The final exam is a 2-hour exam (at the same time as the lecture) through Wattle Quiz and consists of multiple-choice exercises. The questions will be based on the material covered in the course (e.g., slides, lectures, compulsory readings, tutorials, and tutorial handouts). A calculator may be used.

Required Resources

Students are required to obtain copies of the following book:

• Shepsle, Kenneth A. 2010. Analyzing Politics: Rationality, Behavior and Institutions. London: W. W. Norton. [Second Edition.]

Recommended Resources

Some lectures will be based on book chapters, which will be provided on the Wattle website by the convener. The reading of the books chapters assigned for class are compulsory, but the purchase of the books (listed below) by students is optional: 

• Riker, William H. 1988. Liberalism against populism. Long Grove: Waveband Press. [Reissued Edition.]
• Johnson, David B. 1991. Public Choice: An Introduction to the new political economy. London: WCB/McGraw-Hill.
• Hindmoor, Andrew. 2006. Rational Choice. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Butler, Eamonn. 2012. Public Choice: A Primer. London: Institute of Economic Affairs.

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course: written comments, with occasional feedback to the whole class. Verbal feedback is available through individual meeting. Solutions to assignments, practice problems and in-lecture exercises will be posted to Wattle.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction: Models, Math, and Public Choice
2	Individual Rationality and Strategic Interaction
3	State Formation and the Logic of Political Survival	Assignment 1
4	Social Choice Theory
5	The Manipulation of Social Choices: Strategic Voting and Agenda Setting
6	Spatial Models: Elections and Party Competition	Assignment 2
7	Voting Methods and Electoral Systems	Research Paper
8	Collective Action and Public Goods
9	Political Institutions and Veto Players	Assignment 3
10	Coalition Governance and the Principal-Agent Problem
11	Bureaucracy and Judicial Courts
12	Nondemocratic Politics and Theories of War	Assignment 4

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Lecture Participation and Weekly Readings	5 %	*	*	1, 2, 3
Tutorial Participation	5 %	*	*	1, 2, 3
Assignment 1	10 %	08/03/2023	22/03/2023	1, 2, 3
Assignment 2	10 %	29/03/2023	12/04/2023	1, 2, 3
Assignment 3	10 %	03/05/2023	17/05/2023	1, 2, 3
Assignment 4	10 %	24/05/2023	07/06/2023	1, 2, 3
Research Paper	20 %	19/04/2023	24/05/2023	1, 2, 3
Final Exam	30 %	14/06/2023	29/06/2023	1, 2, 3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Lecture Participation and Weekly Readings

Value: 5%.

Students are expected to attend all classes and course activities. Students are required to have completed the required readings before each class, and should be prepared to discuss the required readings during class.

Assessment Task 2

Tutorial Participation

Value: 5%.

More extensive group exercises and discussions occur during the tutorial session, and are also submitted during the period. The marks from participation will constitute 10% of the overall course mark, being 5% from lectures and 5% from tutorials. Tutorial exercises will be available for practice, as well as online forums.

Assessment Task 3

Assignment 1

Value: 10%.

The material for this class is best learned through practice, so there will be four lists of exercises through the semester, where students will be required to solve problems and/or provide interpretations. Assignment 1 is due to 8 March 2023.

Assessment Task 4

Assignment 2

Value: 10%.

The material for this class is best learned through practice, so there will be four lists of exercises through the semester, where students will be required to solve problems and/or provide interpretations. Assignment 2 is due to 29 March 2023.

Assessment Task 5

Assignment 3

Value: 10%.

The material for this class is best learned through practice, so there will be four lists of exercises through the semester, where students will be required to solve problems and/or provide interpretations. Assignment 3 is due to 3 May 2023.

Assessment Task 6

Assignment 4

Value: 10%.

The material for this class is best learned through practice, so there will be four lists of exercises through the semester, where students will be required to solve problems and/or provide interpretations. Assignment 4 is due to 24 May 2023.

Assessment Task 7

Research Paper

Value: 20%.

Students will be required to prepare a maximum 1,000-word research paper (+/- 10%). The research paper subject will be from topics students will have had by the due date (weeks 1-6). The research paper is due Wednesday, 19 April 2023, by 2 PM. Please don't leave until the last second; once it ticks over to 2:01 PM, it is one day late. The submission must include the essay number and a title. The research paper must be submitted via Turnitin. Further details will be provided on Wattle.

Assessment Task 8

Final Exam

Value: 30%.

The final exam is a 2-hour exam (at the same time as the lecture) through Wattle Quiz and consists of multiple-choice exercises. The questions will be based on the material covered in the course (e.g., slides, lectures, compulsory readings, tutorials, and tutorial handouts). A calculator may be used. The tentative due date for the final exam is 14 June 2023.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students