Largely a political or ideologically-driven approach to policy analysis that assumes people will vote in their own best interests, rather than any idea of what's beneficial or valued within society. It employs (largely new right) ideas of economic behaviour to political behaviour.

It's normative also in that it assumes people should vote that way - and should have every opportunity to express their choice over policy matters from the perspective of how they perceive their own interests.

It can be misleading in the sense that it assumes a non-descpriptive model of human being. That people are rational, emotion-free, computers-like thinking machines. As long as it is understood as a normative position it can be harmless, but when it is adopted during lawmaking or during processes of law application it can be harmful and erroneous. The better model of choice in political science can be developed by using data from behavioural economics, cognitive psychology etc.

I am also wondering about how or if to use public choice theory critique in exploring why current welfare structures perpetuate reliance on the system

Dear Antoni Kolek, The question was asked 5 years ago. Is it still valid? I'm asking because in our country a lot has changed in the field of research in this field over the past five years. I researched some aspects of this issue and published my research two years ago. greetings