Irish voter rationality: the 1987 Irish General Election revisited

Abstract

In their study of Irish voters in 1987 Laver, Marsh and Sinnott concluded that there was little evidence of rational voting. This paper re-examines the question, using the same data, and finds evidence of rationality among those voters who switched their vote between 1982-1987. The results of a LOGIT analysis suggest that there was an issue basis to their decision to switch. Furthermore, there were cross party differences to the issue effects, suggesting some scope for party campaign influence over voters.