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James Rogers is associate professor of political science at Texas A&M University, and is a fellow with the Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy at the Bush School of Government and Public Service. He also served as editor of the Journal of Theoretical Politics from 2006 through 2013.

June 21, 2018|Elections, James Madison, Median voter, Rational Voter Model

Rational Voter, Meet Median Voter

by James R. Rogers|1 Comment

photo credit: Rob Crandall (shutterstock.com)

“Tribalism” motivates a lot of partisan behavior, but there are many other factors—including policy preferences—involved.

June 19, 2018|Al Gore, Bush v. Gore, Civic Virtue, George W. Bush, motivation, Rational Voter Model

The Rational Voter Might Show Up to Defend Civic Virtue

by James R. Rogers|2 Comments

Alexandru Nika/Shutterstock.com

Isn't it possible that the rational voter model can be amended to account for civic virtue?

June 15, 2018|misperception, rational choice theory, rational voter

The Rational Voter Model Does Not Predict Zero Turnout

by James R. Rogers|Leave a Comment

Image: 3dfoto/shutterstock.com

Critics of rational choice theory in general and the rational voter model in particular misunderstand what it implies.

June 12, 2018|collusion, equilibrium, local government, location incentives, tax competition

Location Incentives Are Effective: False Deductions from the Dog that Didn’t Bark

by James R. Rogers|10 Comments

Amazon Spheres, Seatlle Washington (Rocky Grimes / Shutterstock.com).

Tangible rewards for offering location incentives are obvious for all local governments, but that doesn't make the practice any less problematic.

June 8, 2018|advisory opinions, Felix Frankfurter, Veto

Advisory Opinions Will Save Everyone’s Time — and Keep Constitutionalism in Mind

by James R. Rogers|Leave a Comment

Evakhov Valeriy/Shutterstock.com

By letting the judiciary offer advisory opinions on legislation, we might not just save time but also get better legislation.

June 5, 2018|chicken, deterrence, Donald Trump, Dr. Strangelove, Kim Jong Un, North Korea, nuclear war

Trump: Perhaps the Last, Best Hope on North Korea?

by James R. Rogers|8 Comments

Pyongyang, North Korea at dusk (Chintung Lee/Shutterstock.com).

It might be helpful that President Trump has switched up how the game is played with North Korea.

June 1, 2018|advisory capacity, Felix Frankfurter, U.S. Supreme Court

Debating Advisory Capacity for Courts

by James R. Rogers|3 Comments

Chambers of the Supreme Court of North Carolina (Nagel Photography / Shutterstock.com).

State supreme courts could easily use their advisory capacity, but it's important to fully consider the costs and benefits.

May 29, 2018|advisory rulings, Federalist 51, state constitutions

Some States Embrace an Advisory Role for Their High Courts

by James R. Rogers|5 Comments

Texas Supreme Court

While the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to issue advisory rulings, some state courts embrace this power.

May 24, 2018|Catholic Social Thought, Economic growth, Equality, John Locke, Oeconomicae et pecuniariae quaestiones, Pope Francis, Poverty

Equality versus Feeding the Hungry

by James R. Rogers|17 Comments

People walking along an open sewer in an unidentified African town (John Wollworth/Shutterstock.com).

It is simply too pat to point to bare economic inequality and decry it as necessarily unjust: pursuing equality can often harm growth.

May 21, 2018|Centesimus Annus, Oeconomicae et Pecuniariae, Rerum Novarum, Wilhelm Ropke

The Surprising Tone of Oeconomicae et Pecuniariae

by James R. Rogers|2 Comments

Pope Francis, November 20, 2015 (Drop of Light/Shutterstock.com).

Oeconomicae et Pecuniariae offers important insights not just for Catholics, but for anyone interested in a moral understanding of economics.

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