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Linear voting Rules

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  • Grüner, Hans Peter
  • Tröger, Thomas

Abstract

How should a society choose between two social alternatives if participation in the decision process is voluntary and costly and monetary transfers are not feasible? Considering symmetric voters with private valuations, we show that it is utilitarian-optimal to use a linear voting rule: votes get alternative-dependent weights, and a default obtains if the weighted sum of votes stays below some threshold. Standard quorum rules are not optimal. We develop a perturbation method to characterize equilibria in the case of small participation costs and show that leaving participation voluntary increases welfare for linear rules that are optimal under compulsory participation.

Suggested Citation

  • Grüner, Hans Peter & Tröger, Thomas, 2016. "Linear voting Rules," CEPR Discussion Papers 11127, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:11127
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mechanisms design; Optimal voting rules; Costly voting; Compulsory voting; Quorum rules;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design

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