합리적 선택이론에서 투표의 비용 : 참여의 비용인가, 결정의 비용인가? = Costs of Voting in Rational Choice Theory : Costs of Participation, or Costs of Decision?

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

I argue that tangible costs and intangible costs in Rational Choice Theory (RCT) affect different stages in voting behaviors. RCT provides a strong theoretical tool to explain voting behaviors, but it cannot be free from the dilemma of voting in which costs of voting are always higher than the benefits. In order to address this dilemma, scholars contend that decreases of information costs (intangible costs) as well as physical costs (tangible costs) can increase the probability of voting. However, I attempt to criticize this alternative explanation. By analyzing a survey data conducted during the 7th Korean local elections in 2018, I show intangible costs can make voters decide candidates they would vote for early but cannot increase probabilities of voting, which can be affected by tangible costs. Thus, my findings suggest a skeptical opinion on the argument that intangible costs can increase the probability of voting.

국문 초록 (Abstract)

본 연구는 합리적 선택이론의 수리적 모형(PB-C+D)에서 투표의 비용(C)에 관심을 가지고, 유형비용과 무형비용이 투표과정의 서로 다른 단계에서 각각 영향을 미친다는 것을 주장한다. 즉, 합리적 선택이론은 효용 극대화를 추구하는 유권자가 투표참여의 효용과 비용을 비교함으로써 합리적인 선택을 한다는 매우 강력한 이론을 제시하지만, 비용이 효용보다 언제나 클 수밖에 없다는 투표참여의 딜레마를 해결해주지 못한다. 이에, 물리적 비용(유형비용)뿐만 아니라 정보비용(무형비용)의 감소가 투표참여를 가능하게 해준다는 대안적 설명이 제시되기도 했지만, 본 연구는 이를 비판적으로 검토한다. 이를 위해 ‘제7회 전국동시지방선거 유권자 정치의식조사’를 통해 분석을 실시한 결과, 비록 유형비용이 투표참여 또는 기권여부에 영향을 미치지만, 무형비용은 오직 투표선택의 결정시기만을 앞당길 뿐이라는 것이 확인된다. 따라서 본 연구의 결과는 무형비용의 감소가 유권자들의 투표참여 확률을 높여줄 수 있다는 주장에 회의적인 시각을 제시한다.

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