Rational Choice Research Articles

Against all odds—Factors explaining unexpected educational advancement of students from educationally disadvantaged families

AbstractIn the course of educational expansion the absolute educational opportunities of children from educationally disadvantaged families have gradually equalized. Nevertheless, the probability of significantly surpassing their parents’ educational level and thus bridging a large social-structural distance remains low for children from disadvantaged social classes. This work examines this “unexpected” educational advancement, i.e. intergenerational educational upward mobility over at least two educational degrees, of students whose parents possess no or at most the lowest secondary school degree focusing on school allocation in Germany.Combining a resource theoretical approach grounded in rational choice theory with insights from life course research, we ask which factors support children in achieving significantly higher school degrees than their parents (i.e. a school-leaving qualification that spans at least two educational levels). Hence, in view of a scarcity of resources of less advantaged students the current study asks which institutional (school), social (networks) and individual factors (personality traits) beyond the family generate academic resilience and thus enable these students to achieve unexpected upward mobility against all odds.For our analysis we use data from the German “LifE” study (1979–2024), a longitudinal life course and multigenerational study comprising data for individuals from age 12 to 57 and their parents and children. Results based on classic cross-tabulated mobility descriptives and stepwise logistic regressions show that a significant proportion of students from disadvantaged educational backgrounds (26.8%) achieve academic advancement that contradicts expectations. Attending high school creates an expected path dependency, which significantly predetermines the path to the Abitur, the highest German school leaving certificate providing admission to university. However, the students personal traits (intelligence, self-perceived aptitude) prove robust factors in the explanation of their unexpected educational success, helping them overcome a parental home situation that lacks education and other resources. For students without affiliation to a Gymnasium, however, grades and gender are more important than for students at a Gymnasium.

Fire Safety Disparities in Sweden: Sociodemographic Influences and the Impact of Societal Protection on Personal Fire Prevention Measures

AbstractPrevious research has identified sociodemographic inequalities in fire prevention measures. This study examined whether sociodemographic differences persist in the Swedish population concerning fire prevention measures and particularly whether there remains an inverted u-curve related to age in protection habits. Additionally, it investigated whether fire protection practices are influenced by the level of societal protection. The research utilised survey data and register data from The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and Statistics Sweden. A latent class analysis was conducted, dividing respondents into four latent classes, followed by two binomial regression analyses. The study revealed three key findings regarding fire protection measures. First, certain demographic groups, namely the young, women, single and childfree households, low-income and low-education individuals, immigrants, and urban residents, are disproportionately lacking optimal fire safety measures. Second, although a safety maturity curve is still observed, older adults in Sweden today are considerably more protected compared to 15–20 years ago, indicating that safety practices employed during middle age continue into old age. Third, a trend is observed where individuals living in areas with more efficient professional rescue services tend to have lower levels of personal fire protection, suggesting a rational choice based on the perceived level of societal protection.

Evaluation of Public Sector Corruption and Organized Crimes as Impediments to Nigeria’s Economic Growth

This research work on the evaluation of public sector corruption and organized crime as an impediment to Nigeria’s economic growth attempts to examine the link between crime and growth based on the theory of rational choice and empirical data.the major objective of this research is to evaluate the extent to which public sector corruption and organized crime impacted on economic growth in Nigeria. The Dynamic Endogenous Growth model is adopted to analyse the data collected as the study sought to cast further light on the macroeconomic implications of organized crime and its interaction with corruption. The study concludes that to eradicate organized crime and corruption in Nigeria, effort should be geared towards a fool-proof, digitized intelligence gathering on identifying the roots causes and a way to nip them in the bud. All leakages in the public sector also need to be blocked to curtail loopholes for corruption to thrive It is recommended that prosecution be forcefully pursued through the enactment of an accountability legislation for public office holders and the enhancement of police and court system skills through sufficient funding.Furthermore, the government ought to take action to promote a more productive economy, which would lower unemployment and serve as a deterrent to crime.

Impact of psychological factors on investment decisions in Nepalese share market: A mediating role of financial literacy

Psychological factors such as emotional reactions, cognitive biases, and herd behavior influence investment decisions because they shape investor behavior, drive market dynamics, and affect rational decision-making. Similarly, financial literacy improves investment decisions by facilitating informed choices, minimizing biases, enhancing risk management, and promoting long-term financial planning. This study aims to examine the influence of psychological factors on investment decisions in the Nepalese share market, emphasizing the mediating role of financial literacy. Smart PLS 4.0 was used to analyze the structural relationships within the proposed theoretical model. Data were collected from the primary source using a structured questionnaire administered through a random sampling technique. The respondents included 410 active individual investors from the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE). The study's findings reveal that psychological factors have a positive and significant effect on investment decisions among investors in the Nepalese stock market. Furthermore, the study revealed that financial literacy mediates the relationship between psychological factors and investment decisions by enhancing individuals' understanding and confidence, leading to more informed and rational investment choices. The results highlight the critical role of financial literacy in investment decisions in the share market. The findings indicate that investors with higher financial literacy levels are better equipped to mitigate the adverse effects of psychological biases, leading to more rational and informed investment decisions. By understanding the interplay between psychological factors and financial literacy, policymakers and financial institutions can develop targeted strategies to foster a more robust and resilient financial market in developing economies such as Nepal.

Is it possible to manage energy politics? Exploring the direct and indirect effects of political factors on the acceptance of solar energy

Is an energy transition a rational choice? To answer this research question, this study analyzed the direct and indirect effects of political ideology and partisan support on the acceptance of solar energy by applying regression analysis and the moderation effect. The risk perception factor, energy factor, and political factor were set as the independent variables. The results showed that non-political variables such as perceived risk, perceived benefit, negative emotion, knowledge, trust, and energy insecurity influenced the acceptance of solar energy more than political variables. Negative emotion had the strongest negative effect on the acceptance. Second, support for the Moon jae-in government as a partisanship variable was associated with the acceptance of the solar energy. However, ideology had no effect on the acceptance. Third, support for the Moon Jae-in government had a positive direct effect on the acceptance and indirectly influenced it by ways of perceived benefits, trust, and negative emotion, which are key influencers of acceptance of solar energy. Progressive political ideology had no direct effect on acceptance, but indirectly suppressed the effect of negative emotion on solar energy acceptance. This study shows that partisanship, in terms of presidential support, has both direct and indirect effects on solar energy acceptance, whereas ideology has indirect effects. Given the important role of political variables, future research should focus more on various political variables, such as political leadership, preference for green politics, climate politics, and the polarization of political support as independent variables.

Toward a rational approach for polyphenol usage in the shelf-life extension of oenological products

The durability of food items, i.e. their shelf life, plays a crucial role in optimizing their quality and exploitation with the aim of limiting food and beverage waste. The primary factor contributing to prolonged deterioration is the oxidation of food products, leading to the generation of by-products that compromise their sensory qualities, such as off-flavors and organoleptic features in general. Concerning beverages, and wine in particular, polyphenols from wood and grapes extracts have gained significant popularity as natural agents able to preserve the quality and desired features due to their recognized antioxidant and anti-radical properties. Although the ability of oak to release polyphenols able to enhance the long-term stability of wines is widely acknowledged, effective methods for monitoring both their kinetics of oxidation and browning are still lacking. A spectrophotometric approach was exploited to develop a novel method for monitoring wine oxidation in the attempt of filling the gap. Such approach was successfully applied to track qualitatively the aging kinetics in oxidative conditions using a wine simulant with the addition of 16 natural extracts. Chestnut and oak extracts resulted the most performing in both hue conservation and oxidized species limitation. Principal component analysis demonstrated that polyphenol of different class can be recognized even after 30 days of oxidation, thus suggesting potential applications of the method in quality and conformity control of polyphenol extracts. The results allow a rational choice of the best polyphenol extract for each specific application in wines, with potential application to other beverages and foods.

Comparative study on the thermal and tribological properties of PA12 and PA11 for coating applications

AbstractIn this study, the performance and potential applicability of polyamide‐12 (PA12) as an alternative to polyamide‐11 (PA11), which is currently used in the coating processes of sliding tools present in cardan shafts, was investigated. The advantages of PA12 powder instead of PA11 in cardan shafts' coating include ease of supply and cost‐effectiveness, while still achieving similar performance. Therefore, PA12 is a more economical choice for coating applications. The PA11 and PA12 neat polymers were characterized via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Based on the analyses, PA12 demonstrated substantial advantages over PA11. It showed a 16°C improvement in decomposition temperature and a 50% increase in crystallinity, enhancing stability under operational conditions, whereas PA11 exhibited approximately 6–7% higher values in crystallization and melting temperatures. The wettability behavior of the steel substrates coated with those polyamides was measured via contact angle analysis. Wear properties and morphologies of coatings were examined using a ball‐on disc test and scanning electron microscopy, respectively and comparatively. Furthermore, PA12 typically displays 30% lower wear rates and similar deformation patterns in tests, thereby presenting itself as a cost‐effective and widely accessible option for coating applications in comparison to PA11.

Gender identity, salience of information, and tacit coordination: Gender differences in response to strategic uncertainty

We use a lab experiment to explore whether gender composition and gender identity salience influence team coordination. Identity in the experiment is induced using gender-specific and neutral avatars. In contrast with many previous studies, we do not find the presence of in-group favoritism, irrespective of whether gender identity or random avatars define the group. In addition, behavior remains unchanged when the gender of the counterpart is revealed. However, females are found to cooperate significantly more when gender information is disclosed, implying an elevation in the salience of gender identity induces the females to choose based on social expectations. This research adds to the discourse on gender dynamics in decision-making and suggests that gender identity plays a role in economic choices, innovating traditional views on diversity in teamwork. Our research sheds light on the intricate dynamics of gender composition in team settings, particularly under conditions of risk and uncertainty. These findings have the potential to inform both organizational practices and public policy, thereby contributing to a more equitable and efficient labor market.

Direct stimulation of anterior insula and ventromedial prefrontal cortex disrupts economic choices

Neural activity within the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and anterior insula (aIns) is often associated with economic choices and confidence. However, it remains unclear whether these brain regions are causally related to these processes. To address this issue, we leveraged intracranial electrical stimulation (iES) data obtained from patients with epilepsy performing an economic choice task. Our results reveal opposite effects of stimulation on decision-making depending on its location along a dorso-ventral axis within each region. Specifically, stimulation of the ventral subregion within aIns reduces risk-taking by increasing participants’ sensitivity to potential losses, whereas stimulation of the dorsal subregion of aIns and the ventral portion of the vmPFC increases risk-taking by reducing participants’ sensitivity to losses. Moreover, stimulation of the aIns consistently decreases participants’ confidence, regardless of its location within the aIns. These findings suggest the existence of functionally dissociated neural subregions and circuits causally involved in accepting or avoiding challenges.

A multinational analysis of how emotions relate to economic decisions regarding time or risk.

Emotions have been theorized to be important drivers of economic choices, such as intertemporal or risky decisions. Our systematic review and meta-analysis of the previous literature (378 results and 50,972 participants) indicates that the empirical basis for these claims is mixed and the cross-cultural generalizability of these claims has yet to be systematically tested. We analysed a dataset with representative samples from 74 countries (n = 77,242), providing a multinational test of theoretical claims that individuals' ongoing emotional states predict their economic preferences regarding time or risk. Overall, more positive self-reported emotions generally predicted a willingness to wait for delayed rewards or to take favourable risks, in line with some existing theories. Contrary to the assumption of a universal relationship between emotions and decision-making, we show that these relationships vary substantially and systematically across countries. Emotions were stronger predictors of economic decisions in more economically developed and individualistic countries.

Explanation, formal models, and rational choice

Formal theorists use a unified collection of models to generate intentional and causal explanations of political behavior. I explicate this claim and argue that disagreements about the role of unification and intentionality are at the root of persistent friction between theorists and empiricists. A debate around pathologies of rational choice theory is used to illustrate the argument.

Economic Statecraft of Small States in Response to Great Power Strategic Rivalry-Take Malaysia as An Example

The foreign economic statecraft of state actors in International Relations (IRs) have often attracted much attention and discussion among scholars, but most of the existing research focuses on the economic statecraft choices of great or medium-sized powers, and there is a lack of discussion on the economic statecraft of small state actors. From the perspective of International Political Economy (IPE), this paper takes Neoclassical Realism (NCR) as the theoretical basis and adopts case studies and process tracing to analyze how Malaysia has responded to the competition of great powers such as the United States, China and Japan with different economic statecrafts. The results show that small states, like great power, possess the ability to implement different economic statecrafts, and the ability threshold, initiative, and rationality of goals are the conditions that shadow whether small countries can implement economic statecrafts. State favorability at the system level and interest preferences at the unit level jointly shape the three modes of economic statecrafts that small states use to cope with great power competition, including: offensive economic statecraft, defensive economic statecraft, and composite economic statecraft. Depending on their relative relationship and status with great powers, small states flexibly apply different economic statecrafts to realize the goals of foreign economic development and maintain national security.

Small amendment arguments: how they work and what they do and do not show

AbstractThe small improvement argument has been said to establish that the standard weak preference or value relation can be incomplete. We first show that the argument is one of three possible ‘small amendment arguments’, each of which would yield the same conclusion. Generalizing the analysis thus, we subsequently present a strong and a weak version of small amendment arguments and derive the exact rationality conditions under which they reveal incompleteness. The results show that the arguments (in any of their variants) need not reveal a problem for the possibility of rational choice. In fact, it can be argued that they only reveal such a problem if the underlying relation is complete rather than incomplete.

Antakng as a Unit of Value in the Life of Dayak Benuaq Tonyooi Community in West Kutai

This paper aims to explain the shift that has occurred in antakng as a customary value standard in the Dayak Benuaq Tonyooi community. Using a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews, observations, and document studies, this research was conducted in West Kutai Regency, East Kalimantan. The results showed that antakng, which has traditionally served as ceremonial object and used as a unit of value for Dayak people, and also functions as a standard of exchange, has now been replaced and converted into a unit of currency (rupiah). Currently, the value of 1 antakng is equivalent to IDR 400,000 (four hundred thousand rupiah). This transformation occurred due to the scarce availability of antakng (urns) and as a form of rational choice from the community to continue conducting economic transactions and maintaining customary practices in the midst of changing times. Antakng converted to money or rupiah is now used as the unit of value for paying wages and fines, and is applied in the settlement of cases in West Kutai. This research recommends the need for preservation efforts and the establishment of clear regulations regarding the use of antakng in the customary context, in order to preserve traditional values amid the challenges of modernization.

Choosing the Design of a Radial-Shear Rolling Mill for Obtaining a Screw Profile

The purpose of this work is a comparative analysis of the workpiece shape, and parameters of the stress-strain state during deformation on two radial-shear rolling mills with different roll configurations to determine the most suitable scheme for obtaining a screw reinforcement profile. During the FEM simulation of the radial-shear rolling process in the DEFORM program, a comparison of the workpiece shape change after rolling, equivalent strain, damage index, and Lode–Nadai index was carried out. Steel 10 (analogue of AISI 1010) was chosen as material workpiece. The analysis of the obtained data revealed that the most rational choice for the implementation of the reinforcement profile production process is the radial-shear rolling mill RSR 10-30. Subsequent modeling of the combined process of radial-shear rolling and twisting in a screw matrix showed that when using rolls of RSR 10-30 mill, the screw profile of the workpiece is formed successfully, whereas using rolls of the SVP-08 mill, the formation of a screw profile is impossible due to jamming due to an irregular cross-section shape. A laboratory experiment confirmed the possibility of forming a screw reinforcement profile at RSR 10-30 mill, and an assessment of the geometric parameters of the final workpiece showed full compliance with the dimensions of the profiles obtained during modeling and experiment.

Commensuration and Currency in Plato’s Phaedo

Abstract My aim in this paper is to show that Plato’s Phaedo makes an important contribution to the development of ideas about the commensuration in value of heterogeneous items that is needed for practical reasoning and rational choice. Because the passage I focus on, the so-called ‘right exchange’ passage at 69a-c, has not usually been read this way, I motivate the reading by showing how it resolves some puzzles local to the Phaedo concerning the stark contrast Socrates develops between the virtues of philosophers and nonphilosophers, ordinary people who do not pursue wisdom single-mindedly, applying to the latter labels like ‘strange’, ‘unreasonable’, ‘illusory’ and ‘slavish’. Socrates says that one should, and suggests that philosophers do, use wisdom as their currency whereas nonphilosophers use pleasure (and perhaps also pains, fears, etc., or bodily conditions in general) as their currency (or currencies). Although it has been generally understood that the basis for this contrast lies in how the two groups evaluate, the details have remained murky. I argue that it’s due to the properties of pleasure (or bodily conditions in general) qua measure of value, in particular pleasure’s context-dependence, that nonphilosophers’ judgements about virtue, e.g. the courage and moderation of particular acts or people, are defective in the ways Socrates says they are.

Construction of a decision model for donor testing in cases of suspected antibody-mediated transfusion-related-acute-lung-injury.

To propose a rational basis for donor testing in cases of suspected antibody-mediated transfusion-related lung injury (AMT). Anti-leukocyte antibodies in donated blood are established causes of transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI). However, the question of whether to test donors for antibodies is not identical to whether the case meets definition criteria for TRALI. There is a balance between the potential benefits of testing and the costs of donor deferral and investigation. We propose that a decision-making process based on optimising the balance between risk and benefit requires a subjective choice of the relative value of different outcomes of testing. We have developed a formal decision model to illustrate how these choices affect testing decisions. Using a Bayesian probability model, we show that the diagnostic benefit and TRALI prevention benefit of testing donors have a complex interrelationship with the number of implicated donors and clinical suspicion of antibody-mediated TRALI (AMT) and that rational testing choices vary according to value assigned to outcomes. The challenges to the use of a formal decision model for clinical testing are discussed and conclude that a formal model is a useful consensus-building tool for improving consistency and openness in decision making.

Can Legal Sanctions Reduce Cyberviolence? How Changes in Cost-Benefit Calculations and Norm Neutralizations Affect Self-Censorship

This study examines whether and how legal sanctions help reduce cyberviolence. Interviews were conducted with offenders who were legally sanctioned for posting criminal online comments in Switzerland. The results of the thematic analysis indicate that offenders self-censor after facing legal sanctions. This is explained with reference to rational choice theory and neutralization theory. The study contributes to the hitherto lacking knowledge about the effectiveness of legal countermeasures against cyberviolence.

Can Ethnic Minority Political Parties Influence the Policy Process in Fragmented Societies? Insights from Sri Lanka

Existing scholarship from developing countries explores the dynamics of identity/ethnocentric politics and finds that in fragmented societies, politicians’ identities tend to influence government policies to favour their own community or group. Against this backdrop, the article explores how the Hill Country ethnic minority community of Sri Lanka influences the policy process through electoral politics. Findings reveal that ethnic minority parties systematically use rational choice theory to influence policy processes to gain material and welfare benefits. The study highlights the fact that ethnic parties tend to induce strong ethnic feelings using ethno-populism to mobilize voters, provide unconditional support, maintain an ever-changing coalition with the ruling administration and have political bargaining based on ethnic headcounts to influence policies. The article informs that this pattern is harmful to post-conflict societies striving for sustainable peace and reconciliation and highlights the necessity of inclusive and impartial policies and institutions, political consolidation and inter-ethnic justice to accommodate ethnic minorities in the mainstream politics and development to prevent deepening ethnopolitical cleavages in the guise of electoral politics.

Symbolic Meanings Attributed to Drugs by Drug Dealers

ABSTRACT The present study explores the symbolic meanings a group of illicit drug dealers give to drugs. We do so by analyzing interviews with 33 individuals actively involved in selling a range of drugs including, but not limited to, marijuana, cocaine, crack-cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, methamphetamine, and various pharmaceuticals. Specifically, we explore the meanings these individuals give to drugs themselves, rather than the meanings they give to the use or sale of drugs. Such an examination is important because the meanings dealers give to drugs can shape dealers’ drug-related decisions and their own self-views. We find that these individuals not only viewed drugs as market products but also as symbolizing their personal and social identities. Additionally, drugs could embody risk for the dealers, act as a means of social control, or represent nontraditional currency. Finally, the absence of drugs fronted to others was viewed by the dealers as a sign of disrespect. We discuss implications for drug control policy, decision-making theoretical frameworks such as deterrence and rational choice, and for understanding of social supply markets of illicit drugs.