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The behavioral assumptions underlying the public choice theory and its key features are grounded in the economic study of non-market decision-making. Public choice theory essentially applies the rational choice model, commonly used in economics, to political science and public administration. It assumes that individuals, whether they are voters, politicians, or bureaucrats, act in their own self-interest, seeking to maximize their personal benefit in the public domain.

Behavioral Assumptions

1. Self-Interest: A central assumption of public choice theory is that individuals involved in public decision-making processes—whether they are voters, elected officials, or bureaucrats—are primarily motivated by self-interest. This contrasts with traditional political theory, which assumes that public officials work toward the collective good. Instead, public choice posits that individuals act to advance their personal goals, such as gaining power, increasing budgets, or securing re-election.
2. Rational Decision-Making: Public choice theory assumes that individuals act rationally, systematically weighing the costs and benefits of various courses of action. This means that, like consumers in markets, individuals in politics are believed to make choices that will maximize their utility.
3. Utility Maximization: This assumption extends from the belief in rationality. Whether individuals are voters or policymakers, they aim to achieve the highest personal gain from a given decision. Voters may seek policies that provide them with material benefits, while politicians may seek policies that ensure their re-election or increase their political power.

Key Features

1. Interest Group Influence: Public choice theory emphasizes the role of interest groups in the political process. Interest groups are seen as rational actors that lobby for policies benefiting their members, even if such policies may not align with the broader public interest. This can lead to rent-seeking behavior, where individuals or organizations expend resources to gain favorable government treatment, often at the expense of overall economic efficiency.
2. Government Failure: While public choice theory acknowledges market failures, it also highlights the potential for government failure. This occurs when government interventions lead to inefficient outcomes due to the self-interested actions of politicians and bureaucrats. Public choice scholars argue that just as markets can fail, so too can governments, especially when policymakers act to further their own interests rather than the public good.
3. Voting Paradoxes: Public choice theory also addresses the challenges of collective decision-making, particularly in democratic systems. For example, the paradox of voting suggests that it is often irrational for individuals to vote, given the low probability that their single vote will influence the outcome of an election. Additionally, Arrow’s Impossibility Theorem highlights the difficulties of achieving fair and consistent collective decision-making when aggregating individual preferences.
4. Bureaucratic Behavior: Public choice theorists argue that bureaucrats, like other political actors, are motivated by self-interest. Bureaucrats may seek to expand their agencies’ budgets, staff, and influence, even when such expansions do not lead to improved public services. This focus on maximizing agency size and influence can lead to bureaucratic inefficiencies.

Conclusion

Public choice theory challenges the notion that public officials act solely in the interest of the common good. Instead, it views political decision-making through the lens of economic self-interest, where individuals, whether voters, politicians, or bureaucrats, behave in ways that maximize their personal benefit. This approach not only explains many inefficiencies in government decision-making but also highlights the complexities of democratic governance and the role of interest groups in shaping public policy.