House of Cards: Politics without Romance

The typical TV politician is an idealist with an almost romantic love for the public interest. In House of Cards, however, we see what "politics without romance" might look like. With self-interested characters who care little about big ideas or the public interest, the show offers a more realistic presentation of how the sausage of politics gets made. It also beautifully illustrates the basics of "public choice theory," or the economic theory of politics. In this program, we will use the show to explore that theory and apply it to the non-fictional world of US politics.

The typical TV politician is an idealist with an almost romantic love for the public interest. In House of Cards, however, we see what "politics without romance" might look like. With self-interested characters who care little about big ideas or the public interest, the show offers a more realistic presentation of how the sausage of politics gets made. It also beautifully illustrates the basics of "public choice theory," or the economic theory of politics. In this program, we will use the show to explore that theory and apply it to the non-fictional world of US politics.

The typical TV politician is an idealist with an almost romantic love for the public interest. In House of Cards, however, we see what "politics without romance" might look like. With self-interested characters who care little about big ideas or the public interest, the show offers a more realistic presentation of how the sausage of politics gets made. It also beautifully illustrates the basics of "public choice theory," or the economic theory of politics. In this program, we will use the show to explore that theory and apply it to the non-fictional world of US politics.

The typical TV politician is an idealist with an almost romantic love for the public interest. In House of Cards, however, we see what "politics without romance" might look like. With self-interested characters who care little about big ideas or the public interest, the show offers a more realistic presentation of how the sausage of politics gets made. It also beautifully illustrates the basics of "public choice theory," or the economic theory of politics. In this program, we will use the show to explore that theory and apply it to the non-fictional world of US politics.

The typical TV politician is an idealist with an almost romantic love for the public interest. In House of Cards, however, we see what "politics without romance" might look like. With self-interested characters who care little about big ideas or the public interest, the show offers a more realistic presentation of how the sausage of politics gets made. It also beautifully illustrates the basics of "public choice theory," or the economic theory of politics. In this program, we will use the show to explore that theory and apply it to the non-fictional world of US politics.

When people compete for grants, subsidies, and other government handouts, economists see a phenomenon called rent seeking. The "rent" is the money being offered. When government gives money away, the people who compete for it incur costs—sometimes more money will be spent in total trying to compete for a grant than the amount of money being given away. These costs are rarely considered in policymaking, but perhaps they should be. One major cost of rent seeking, as Prof. Michael Munger points out, may be that the government awards money to organizations with the best lobbyists, not necessarily those providing the best services.

The typical TV politician is an idealist with an almost romantic love for the public interest. In House of Cards, however, we see what "politics without romance" might look like. With self-interested characters who care little about big ideas or the public interest, the show offers a more realistic presentation of how the sausage of politics gets made. It also beautifully illustrates the basics of "public choice theory," or the economic theory of politics. In this program, we will use the show to explore that theory and apply it to the non-fictional world of US politics.

Why is it that organized interest groups such as the National Rifle Association wield such powerful influence in policy discussions? According to Professor Mike Munger, the reason is simple. In politics, small but organized groups win. Politics is sometimes more complicated than simply having the majority of voters on your side. Prof. Munger explains the three main factors that can allow a smaller interest group to succeed in implementing a policy that may be opposed by a larger (but unorganized) group. First, an interest group's members receive individual benefits from the group's success, which encourages them to act. Second, smaller groups will find it easier overcome the "Free-Rider Problem" since each member's contribution is more visible. Finally, interest groups frequently offer selective incentives that reward people who help support their cause. This economic concept applies to issues far beyond gun rights. Interest groups ranging from environmental activists to rent-seeking corporate lobbyists all understand that Prof. Munger is correct when he says, "Politics in Washington is about concentrating and focusing power."

The typical TV politician is an idealist with an almost romantic love for the public interest. In House of Cards, however, we see what "politics without romance" might look like. With self-interested characters who care little about big ideas or the public interest, the show offers a more realistic presentation of how the sausage of politics gets made. It also beautifully illustrates the basics of "public choice theory," or the economic theory of politics. In this program, we will use the show to explore that theory and apply it to the non-fictional world of US politics.

Why did politicians cut a trivial amount of money in the recent budget agreement? Prof. Ben Powell explains why politicians don't cut spending, as a general rule. Using public choice economics, or the economics of politics, he shows how the political system naturally leads to overspending.

The typical TV politician is an idealist with an almost romantic love for the public interest. In House of Cards, however, we see what "politics without romance" might look like. With self-interested characters who care little about big ideas or the public interest, the show offers a more realistic presentation of how the sausage of politics gets made. It also beautifully illustrates the basics of "public choice theory," or the economic theory of politics. In this program, we will use the show to explore that theory and apply it to the non-fictional world of US politics.