Decisions and Elections Explaining the Unexpected
“Decisions and Elections Explaining the Unexpected” by Donald Saari, published by Cambridge University Press on October 22, 2001, is a 240-page exploration of the complexities surrounding decision-making and electoral outcomes. This book addresses common frustrations with election results and decisions in various fields, including economics and political science. Saari presents a new interpretation of Nobel Laureates Kenneth Arrow’s and Amartya Sen’s theorems, suggesting that the flaws in decision procedures stem from conflicting assumptions rather than merely poor data or uninformed voters.
Readers will find that this work employs simple mathematics to clarify how these negative conclusions can be anticipated and understood. By examining the interplay between individual liberties and societal needs, Saari provides insights into the political process and decision-making theories. The book is designed to be accessible, making it suitable for those interested in economics, political science, and the theory behind decision-making.
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It is not uncommon to be frustrated by the outcome of an election or a decision in voting, law, economics, engineering, and other fields. Does this ‘bad’ result reflect poor data or poorly informed voters? Or does the disturbing conclusion reflect the choice of the decision/election procedure? Nobel Laureate Kenneth Arrow’s famed theorem has been interpreted to mean ‘no decision procedure is without flaws’. Similarly, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen dashes hope for individual liberties by showing their incompatibility with societal needs. This highly accessible book offers a new, different interpretation and resolution of Arrow’s and Sen’s theorems. Using simple mathematics, it shows that these negative conclusions arise because, in each case, some of their assumptions negate other crucial assumptions. Once this is understood, not only do the conclusions become expected, but a wide class of other phenomena can also be anticipated.
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