Final answer:
Anthony Downs' rational-choice theory describes how citizens in a democracy behave in ways similar to making economic decisions, considering the cost-benefit of political participation. He notes the paradox where citizens recognize the limited impact of their vote and thus may not seek comprehensive political information. The theory outlines the transactional dynamic among citizens, political parties, and policy, influenced by political spending.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anthony Downs' rational-choice theory, presented in his book An Economic Theory of Democracy, suggests that citizens engage in political processes in a way similar to making economic decisions. Downs surmised that people act in their self-interest by supporting parties and policies that align with their preferences. However, he highlights a paradox where the rational citizen might abstain from gathering all possible political information or participating in elections, given the minimal impact their single vote has on the outcome.
In democratic societies, this theory implies a transactional relationship among citizens, parties, and policy, where political parties craft policies to garner votes from rational citizens, who in turn choose parties that provide the most benefit to them. However, the significant time investment required to become fully informed and the negligible effect of one vote on election results, as both Downs and B.F. Skinner pointed out, discourage deep engagement by citizens.
The theory also touches on the influence of political spending, which may further complicate this relationship by providing parties with the resources to sway public opinion and outshine their competitors, potentially overshadowing the policy alignment between citizens' preferences and parties' stances.