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A Note on the Possible Advantage of Size Flexibility in Committees

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  • BEN-YASHAR, Ruth
  • NITZAN, Shmuel

Abstract

This note analyzes the possible advantage of size flexibility in decision-making bodies facing an uncertain dichotomous choice. We find that under constant size variability, application of the unanimity rule might be more desirable than the simple majority rule, yielding higher average performance. In contrast, and as is well known, the latter rule is always the superior one, given a fixed number of decision makers with identical decisional competence.

Suggested Citation

  • BEN-YASHAR, Ruth & NITZAN, Shmuel, 2017. "A Note on the Possible Advantage of Size Flexibility in Committees," Discussion paper series HIAS-E-61, Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University.
    • Handle: RePEc:hit:hiasdp:hias-e-61
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    File URL: https://hermes-ir.lib.hit-u.ac.jp/hermes/ir/re/28977/070_hiasDP-E-61.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sah, Raaj Kumar & Stiglitz, Joseph E, 1988. "Committees, Hierarchies and Polyarchies," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 98(391), pages 451-470, June.
    2. Eyal Baharad & Ruth Ben-Yashar, 2009. "The robustness of the optimal weighted majority rule to probability distortion," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 139(1), pages 53-59, April.
    3. Ben-Yashar, Ruth & Nitzan, Shmuel, 1998. "Quality and structure of organizational decision-making," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 521-534, September.
    4. Young, H. P., 1988. "Condorcet's Theory of Voting," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 82(4), pages 1231-1244, December.
    5. Ben-Yashar, Ruth & Danziger, Leif, 2016. "The unanimity rule and extremely asymmetric committees," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 107-112.
    6. Ruth Ben-Yashar & Shmuel Nitzan, 2014. "On the significance of the prior of a correct decision in committees," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 76(3), pages 317-327, March.
    7. Ruth Ben-Yashar & Shmuel Nitzan, 2001. "The robustness of optimal organizational architectures: A note on hierarchies and polyarchies," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 18(1), pages 155-163.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    obligatory or flexible committee size; unanimity rule; simple majority rule;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D7 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making

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