Formal Models of Domestic Politics

Reviews / Votes

'Formal Models of Domestic Politics is an ideal textbook for students who have completed basic course work in game theory and are gearing up to learn about its most recent applications to political science. For seasoned political economists, it is the perfect reference when they need a quick refresher on a family of models. Gehlbach presents formal theory in a way that not only is inviting to the reader but actually helps original authors get their ideas across more effectively. The new chapter on non-democracy accomplishes this particularly well, finding common elements in seemingly unrelated models in a way that makes the whole so much more than just a sum of its parts. Any political economist should keep this book on hand.' Monika Nalepa, University of Chicago 'This is a lovely book to teach from. It is unique in bridging the gap between informal political- economic models and more advanced topics. Gehlbach has a special gift in initiating undergraduate students to rigorous academic standards, introducing models step by step, with a variety of well-chosen applications. New content on nondemocratic models of politics makes this second edition even more relevant for tackling current political-economic issues.' Giancarlo Ianulardo, University of Exeter Business School 'This is the only textbook that provides an accessible and comprehensive coverage of the state-of-the-art theoretical models of political economy. The second edition's new chapter on authoritarian politics is especially welcome - given the growing economic and geopolitical importance of nondemocratic countries and the recent scholarly advances in the field.' Sergei Guriev, Sciences Po Paris 'The first edition of Formal Models of Domestic Politics is already a cornerstone of the pedagogical canon of political economy, and the second edition further solidifies this status. In this new edition, Gehlbach has included important and timely new material, such as semi-democratic and authoritarian states, delegation, and voter rationality. Perfectly pitched for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in social science, this work is wonderful for both teaching and research purposes. Gehlbach takes incredible care in explaining both the models and the art of developing one's own applied theoretical models. Simply put, it is a must-have for any scholar interested in political economy.' John W. Patty, Emory University 'Formal Models of Domestic Politics is an indispensable book! In this new edition, Gehlbach guides us through both the latest developments in formal political theory and canonical models of politics. The book's clarity and style make it accessible to advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students; the book's coverage and depth have made it a standard reference for both political scientists and economists.' Milan Svolik, Yale University