*** The **paradox of voting** (also called **Downs’ paradox**) is a puzzle in rational choice theory about why people vote at all in large elections. ## Basic idea formula in the [[theory of abstention]] [[expected benefit of voting]] ~ 0 [[cost of voting]] = real costs so the result is always under 0 For a purely self‑interested, rational actor ([[approche rationaliste]],) the conclusion should be: > It is **irrational to vote** in large elections. Yet **millions of people do vote**, regularly. That’s the paradox. ## Main implications and responses To resolve this paradox, scholars have suggested: - **Expressive motivations**: people vote not to change the outcome, but to _express_ their identity, values, or group loyalty (voting as expressive behavior). - **[[normes sociales|Norms]] and duty**: people get utility from fulfilling a sense of **civic duty** (“a good citizen votes”), so the “benefit” includes moral/psychological satisfaction. - **Altruism / collective benefit**: individuals may care about the welfare of others; even a tiny probability of affecting a large collective benefit can justify voting. - **Social pressure and reputational concerns**: people may fear disapproval if they don’t vote, or seek esteem by participating. ## Notes de bas de page ``` dataview TABLE length(file.outlinks) AS "Liens sortants", length(file.inlinks) AS "Liens entrants" WHERE file.path = this.file.path ```