The calculus of consent

This book, written by James M. Buchanan and Gordon Tullock, is a classic in the field of public choice theory and constitutional political economy.

It introduces a model of constitutional decision making, focusing on the choice of rules that govern political activities.

The authors use economic methods and contractual constitutionalism to address the problem of democratic justification, exploring how individuals might consent to institutional rules that benefit everyone.

The book is significant for its analysis of constitutional choice, logrolling, and political exchange, and it has had a lasting impact on the fields of economics and political science.