Mystum Politics & Policy Category Page List All Articles

Politics & Policy

Surreal illustration of voters on a bandwagon and a sinking ship, symbolizing election dynamics.

Why Do We Follow the Crowd? Understanding Bandwagon Effects in Voting

Explore the hidden psychological forces that influence voter turnout, from the allure of joining a winning team to the fear of backing a loser, and how these behaviors affect election fairness.

Precarious balance scale representing the rewards and repression in autocratic rule, with a distorted reflection of the leader.

Decoding Autocracy: How Political Survival Shapes Concessions and Control

Explore the hidden dynamics of autocratic rule, where a leader's survival hinges on navigating the uncertainties of their inner circle. Discover how concessions, repression, and elite instability shape policy and potentially sow the seeds of change.

A voter at a crossroads, symbolizing the choice between economic needs and political loyalty.

Will Your Wallet Decide the Next Election? How Economic Struggles Sway Voters

Explore how economic hardships, measured through an innovative Inflation Behavior Index, significantly influence voting decisions, potentially overriding traditional party lines.

Diverse students climbing a staircase of books towards a university in the sky, symbolizing affirmative action and equitable education.

Fairness in Education: Can Affirmative Action Truly Level the Playing Field?

Affirmative action policies aim to correct historical disadvantages, but achieving true fairness is a balancing act. Discover the challenges and potential solutions for creating a more equitable education system.

Stable Building in a Shifting City

Policy Proof: How Robustness Testing Can Save Your City Millions

Policy decisions impact millions, but are they reliable across different scenarios? Learn how robustness testing uncovers hidden weaknesses, potentially saving vast resources.

Diverse group climbing stairs towards a bright sky symbolizing affirmative action and equal opportunity.

Leveling the Playing Field: How Affirmative Action Can Truly Work

Explore the complexities of affirmative action policies in India and discover a groundbreaking mechanism for ensuring equitable opportunities in education and employment.

Diverse group collaboratively building a balanced scale, representing fair social integration.

Decoding Group Decisions: How Rational Choice Theory Impacts Social Well-being

Delve into rational choice theory, its applications in social choice, and its significance in creating more equitable social structures.

Politician's Shadowy Influence

Decoding Transparency: How Lobbyists, Politicians, and Public Policy Interact

Explore the intricate relationship between transparency, lobbying, and political decision-making. Learn how reputations and incentives shape the flow of information and impact public policy.

Conflicting priorities in social decision-making, symbolized by people pulling scales.

Can Social Decision Schemes Ever Truly Be Fair? The Incentive Problem

Social decision schemes (SDSs) aim to translate individual preferences into collective choices. Discover the limitations, impossibility theorems, and potential solutions in creating fair and strategy-proof systems.

A surreal illustration of polynomial voting, symbolizing fair and balanced decision-making.

Is Your Vote Really Yours? Unveiling the Future of Fair Elections with Polynomial Voting

Dive into the innovative world of polynomial voting rules, designed to balance power and prevent control in decentralized systems. Learn how these rules could transform everything from blockchain governance to community decision-making.

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