Intensities, preferences, and electoral politics
Abstract In several papers on electoral behavior authors have come to the conclusion that the mid-point of the distribution of preferences on each issue is dominant political strategy. These papers also claim that under certain conditions and assumptions a median-like strategy maximizes a society's well-being. This paper presents an alternative model and set of assumptions which contradicts the conclusions about the power and importance of the median. The alternative model is then used to make some observations about electoral behavior and the performance of various political institutions.