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This paper illustrates one strategy for testing a theory of economic influences on voting. We use a competitive equilibrium model of the economy to determine the impact of an individual's economic position on his or her economic interests and, ultimately, political interests. We then test whether this impact is observed in voting behavior, addressing the resulting specification and estimation problems in the context of U.S. presidential election data. Our empirical results suggest that, despite these formidable problems, we can usefully connect political-economic models and discrete-choice (probit) models of voting.

Are there appropriate limits to the application of rational choice in political decision making? Does rationalism in politics lead to absolutism? Is there a "pressing threat" to liberal democracy "posed by the irreverent conviction of the hegemony of reason"? In the June 1987 issue of thisReview, Darrell Dobbs drew lesson from Homer's epic poem, theOdyssey, to argue the limits of rationalism in politics. In this Controversy, Robert Crafstein argues that Dobbs's case against rationalism is not proved. In turn, Dobbs holds to his construction of the relevance of Odysseus' nod to sacred values.

A discussion of Saguiv A. Hadari's critique of rational choice models (see abstract in this section). Hadari uses a multilevel approach that covers the debate from the broad area of philosophy of social science to the level of specific rational choice models. Here, the levels of Hadari's critique are traced, starting with the philosophy of social science, moving to the concept of rationality assumption, & finally examining the research application of the assumption. In Rational Choice In Social Theory, Saguiv A. Hadari (Wake Forest U, Winston-Salem, NC) agrees with Grafstein's comments on the usefulness of rational choice models, but challenges Grafstein's assumption of a disjunction between positive theory & hermeneutics & reconsiders the limits to the application of rational choice models, using an example from analytical Marxist theory. 18 References. Modified HA

THE CONCEPTS OF LIBERTY AND FREEDOM ARE THE CORE OF LIBERAL POLITICAL THOUGHT. THEY ARE ALSO A FOCUS FOR CONTEMPORARY POLITICS. THE PAPER EXAMINES THE VARIOUS DEFINITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NOTION OF LIBERTY, AS WELL AS THE WAYS IN WHICH THESE DEFINITIONS REFLECT THE CONCRETE POLITICAL PREFERENCES OF THEIR EXPONENTS. FINALLY, THE PAPER SUGGESTS A POSSIBLE REVISED UNDERSTANDING OF FREEDOM-AN UNDERSTANDING THAT IS BOTH IN HARMONY WITH LIBERALISM PROPER AND PRESCRIPTIVE FOR A LIBERAL POLITICS.