These approaches fall under positive political theories with name social choice theory, public choice theory etc. The idea is to apply the formal tools of economics, statistics, game theory, etc. to analyze politics.

The old classics:

- The Theory of Political Coalitions (1962) by William H. Riker

- Social Choice and Individual Values (1952) by Kenneth Arrow.

- The Calculus of Consent: Logical Foundations of Constitutional Democracy (1962) by Buchanan and Tullock