MEDIAN VOTERS OR BUDGET MAXIMIZERS: EVIDENCE FROM SCHOOL EXPENDITURE REFERENDA

Some readers may have found these results of greater interest were we able to confirm the directional hypotheses of the certainty setter model in addition to finding that spending is "related" to the reversion – the much weaker prediction of the uncertainty model. Yet the failure of the certainty
When base elections were optional, their infrequent occurrence might be expected under either a median voter or a setter model. For those districts that did hold base elections, the observations appear consistent with a setter model, but are either inexplicable by or inconsistent with a median voter model. Finally, both (a) the relationship between the number of budget elections and the presence of base elections, and (b) the outcome of mandatory base elections in 1978 provide a set of observations that are challenging to either model.
A similar challenge was posed by our investigation of budget elections when we called attention to the inadequacy of static, full information models. Rather than resolving the question of the simple setter model against the simple median voter model, our results indicate that both may be inappropriate and that endeavors dealing with complexities omitted here are warranted.     

Misreporting and Vicarious Political Participation at the Local Level

The paper provides a method for examining the differences betweenpeople who actively participate in politics as contrasted withthose who are not participants, and those who misreport theirlevel of participation. Application of this method shows thatthe participants and the misreporters share numerous characteristicsthat set them apart from nonparticipants. The main distinguishingcharacteristic of the misreporters is their significantly higherexposure to television. The results lend support to the theorythat one effect of television is to depress routine forms ofpolitical participation, while simultaneously distorting people'sperception of their actual participation in political life.     

Marriage in nineteenth-century Canada*

Les données de recensement sur le marriage au Canada pour la période 1851–1891 sont examinées. La nuptialité canadienne est perçue dans le contexte du type de marriage unique et historique d'Europe occidentale, et la conclusion en est tirée que le niveau de nuptialité au Canada est peu élevé, comme du reste, celui d'Europe occidentale qu'il essaye de suivre. Les éléments qui influencent les tendances et le taux de nuptialité sont discutés avec l'emphase sur les variables démographiques. Les variations inter-provinciales du marriage au xix^e siècle sont présentées et analysées.
Census data concerning marriage in Canada for the period from 1851 to 1891 are examined. The Canadian nuptiality experience is viewed in the light of the unique, historical western European marriage pattern, with the finding that Canadian nuptiality levels are low, in keeping with the western European pattern. Factors accounting for nuptiality level and trend are discussed, with a particular focus on demographic variables. Provincial variation in nineteenth-century marriage behaviour is described and analyzed.     

GRADUATE EDUCATION AND PRIVATE RATES OF RETURN: A REVIEW OF THEORY AND EMPIRICISM

In this paper twelve recent studies regarding private rates of return for graduate education are reviewed and evaluated. Possible sources of error due to data base, methodology and interpretation of results are examined and compared. After this has been done, the authors calculate returns to graduate education with spatial distribution problems and job security incorporated in the model. The article concludes that the typical rate of return method has been pushed about as far as it can go and now is the time for the economic profession to develop more meaningful techniques which will allow us to come to grips with the policy issues regarding the level of support for education.     

A QUALITY-ADJUSTMENT MODEL OF THE ACADEMIC LABOR MARKET: THE CASE OF ECONOMISTS

This paper uses some new data on the initial academic placements of new Ph.D. economists to test a quality-adjustment model, which is consistent with the hypothesis that most academic appointments follow a "downstream" pattern. By the use of weighted least squares the authors confirm the importance of the perceived quality of the faculty of the degree granting program, the publishing performance of former graduates of these programs, and the student/faculty ratio of these programs in economics over the period 1960 to 1978. Finally, it is shown that contrary to popular opinion, the extent of the "downstream" pattern has not been magnified in the so-called buyers markets of the 1970's.