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Balancing Democracy: Majoritarianism vs. Expression of Preference Intensity

Author

Listed:
  • Shmuel I. Nitzan

    (Bar-Ilan University)

  • Asaf D.M. Nitzan

Abstract

Direct confrontation between majority rule (MR) and the most in-depth studied scoring rules—the Borda rule (BR) and the plurality rule (PR)—on the basis of their fundamental weaknesses (violating one of the two principles: majoritarianism and suitable recognition of preference intensity) has not been attempted. Defining the cost of a rule as the expected erosion of the principle that it violates, this study fills the gap by comparing MR with PR and BR in terms of their mutual costs. The main findings are the evident superiority of PR over MR and the superiority of MR over BR.

Suggested Citation

  • Shmuel I. Nitzan & Asaf D.M. Nitzan, 2023. "Balancing Democracy: Majoritarianism vs. Expression of Preference Intensity," Working Papers 2023-02, Bar-Ilan University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:biu:wpaper:2023-02
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eyal Baharad & Shmuel Nitzan, 2016. "Is majority consistency possible?," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 46(2), pages 287-299, February.
    2. Salvador Barberà & Walter Bossert & Kotaro Suzumura, 2021. "Daunou’s voting rule and the lexicographic assignment of priorities," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 56(2), pages 259-289, February.
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    6. Baharad, Eyal & Nitzan, Shmuel, 2002. "Ameliorating Majority Decisiveness through Expression of Preference Intensity," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 96(4), pages 745-754, December.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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