Eric Maskin

On the Robustness of Majority Rule and Unanimity Rule

Author: 
Eric Maskin
Partha Dasgupta
Last Name: 
Maskin
Abstract: 

We show that simple majority rule satisfies four standard< and attractive properties—the Pareto property, anonymity, neutrality, and (generic) transitivity—on a bigger class of preference domains than (essentially) any other voting rule. Hence, in this sense, it is the most robust voting rule. If we replace neutrality in the above list of properties with the weaker property, independence of irrelevant alternatives, then the corresponding robustness conclusion holds for unanimity rule (rule by consensus).

Journal
Year: 
2003

School of Social Science: