Govt 317 Section Update

Information Updates Regarding Sections for Government 317 (Fall 1998)

This topics of the sections are posted at the bottom of the page, and will hopefully be updated at the beginning of each week. I have also typed up the outlines for some of the sections that have been completed. These sketch out the ideas that students are encouraged to think about during sections. They are offered in the hope they will be helpful, however, I cannot promise that I will have the time to make this a regular service.

I strongly encourage those who are able to attend sections to share your notes with those less fortunate. Be nice, make a friend.

September 7:

The first week's sections covered topics from Fiorina's "Keystone" book.

September 14:

This week's sections will be focused on the problems of collective action and public goods--the starting point is the Hinich and Munger reading (chapter 7) assigned in the Voting Rights and Other Participation section.

September 21:

The sections this week will focus on ensuring that you understand simple spatial models and are able to do the algebra required. The readings for this Sept 22-Sept 29 are, Hinich and Munger, Analytical Politics, chap 1-4, and I strongly urge you to do all of the problems offered at the end of these chapters. Especially important for section this week are exercises:

• Chap 2: 2.3-2.6
• Chap 3: 3.1-3.3

September 28:

As promised last week, I will answer questions on Hinich and Munger Exercises 4.1-4.3. I would like to spend most of the time in section this week going over implications and extensions of the simple spatial models we have seen, focusing on materials covered in Hinch and Munger. In particular, for section this week I make the following recommendations:

• Review Chapter 7: we can now look with greater analytical ability at the participation (turnout) effects that we saw in CHAPTER 7.
• Read Chapters 8 and 9 ASAP: These cover strategic voting theories and I would like to be able to talk about them and the logic of a wasted vote.

October 6:

This week will try to cover two topics: agenda construction in two dimensions and Alesina and Rosenthals (AR) model of divided government. As time permits we will contrast with Fiorina.

You will find the outlines by clicking on the `Next' button above -- this will move you through the sequence of weeks.