Yes... we think they do: Using a quasi-natural voting experiment encompassing a 160-year period, we investigate whether a higher level of complexity leads to increased reliance on trusted parliamentary representatives. We find that when more referenda are held on the same day, constituents are more likely to refer to parliamentary recommendations as a simple rule of thumb when making their decisions. (see http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0084078)
Is it likely that citizens generally follow simple rules of thumb in political decisions?
Do you have any suggestions for further research the topic of bounded rationality?
Article Bounded Rationality and Voting Decisions over 160 Years: Vot...
I don't know that the argument would apply only when the electoral choice itself is complex. It could apply when the broader social or economic situation is difficult. The question for the voter is who, if anybody to blame? The majority party? The incumbent in a district? As you probably know there is a huge literature on "economic voting," that can be framed in terms of voters using simple decision rules.
Which variables are considered when judging a representative as thrustworthy?
It would be a very interesting question to explore which variables are considered when judging a representative as trustworthy and how people choose who is to blame... In most modern democracies, information provision is delegated to politicians, interest groups, the government, and/or professional information gatherers. For our case, we rely on past literature which shows that citizens of the Nordic countries, Switzerland, and Luxembourg tend to report the highest levels of trust in their national parliaments and have the highest level of overall trust in political institutions.
Thanks for clearing that point. You may consider that this issue have a far more complicated scenary in Brazil. That, I wish, explains my concerns about trustworthiness criteria.
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