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Symmetric Scoring Rules And A New Characterization Of The Borda Count

Author

Listed:
  • Jac C. Heckelman
  • Robi Ragan

Abstract

Young developed a classic axiomatization of the Borda rule almost 50 years ago. He proved it is the only voting rule satisfying the normative properties of decisiveness, neutrality, reinforcement, faithfulness and cancellation. Often overlooked is that the uniqueness of Borda applies only to variable populations. We present a different set of properties which only Borda satisfies when both the set of voters and the set of alternatives can vary. It is also shown Borda is the only scoring rule which will satisfy all of the new properties when the number of voters stays fixed. (JEL D71, D02, H00)

Suggested Citation

  • Jac C. Heckelman & Robi Ragan, 2021. "Symmetric Scoring Rules And A New Characterization Of The Borda Count," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 59(1), pages 287-299, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:59:y:2021:i:1:p:287-299
    DOI: 10.1111/ecin.12929
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Young, H. P., 1974. "An axiomatization of Borda's rule," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 43-52, September.
    2. Kurihara, Takashi, 2018. "A simple characterization of the anti-plurality rule," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 110-111.
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    6. Robert E. Goodin & Christian List, 2006. "A Conditional Defense of Plurality Rule: Generalizing May's Theorem in a Restricted Informational Environment," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 50(4), pages 940-949, October.
    7. David S. Ahn & Santiago Oliveros, 2012. "Combinatorial Voting," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 80(1), pages 89-141, January.
    8. Jac C. Heckelman & Frederick H. Chen, 2013. "Strategy Proof Scoring Rule Lotteries for Multiple Winners," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 15(1), pages 103-123, February.
    9. Pivato, Marcus, 2013. "Variable-population voting rules," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 210-221.
    10. Dimitrios Xefteris, 2014. "How robust is majority voting as a social choice rule?," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 66(4), pages 1006-1018.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wesley H. Holliday & Eric Pacuit, 2021. "Axioms for defeat in democratic elections," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 33(4), pages 475-524, October.
    2. Yifeng Ding & Wesley H. Holliday & Eric Pacuit, 2025. "Characterizations of voting rules based on majority margins," Papers 2501.08595, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2025.
    3. Guy Barokas & Yves Sprumont, 2022. "The broken Borda rule and other refinements of approval ranking," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 58(1), pages 187-199, January.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • H00 - Public Economics - - General - - - General

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