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<p>Social choice theory, properly so called, originated in the field
of economics rather than political science. So it is unlikely to
be "an ethnocentric apology for the hounding of proportional
representation from some 20 American cities." On the other hand,
its pedigree does help account for some of its limitations when
applied to public elections.</p>
<p>Fortunately, the formal study of election methods includes quite
a bit more than social choice theory.</p>
<p>--Bob Richard<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 8/3/2016 12:08 PM, Richard Lung
wrote:<br>
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<big><big>To all,<br>
Social choice theory seems to deny fairness of elections
without an adequate fairness criterion. The Oxford dictionary
defines fair as equitable, which is to say proportional.
Obviously, then, according to social choice theory there is no
fair electoral system, because its rules do not allow for the
proportional count criterion of fairness. (It is based on
preference voting - necessary but not sufficient - Iain
Maclean, Democracy and New Technology.)<br>
It recently occured to me that social choice theory is an
ethnocentric apology for the hounding of proportional
representation from some 20 American cities. <br>
<br>
From<br>
Richard Lung.<br>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Richard Lung.
E-books (mostly available free or reader-sets-price)
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.voting.ukscientists.com/colverse.html">http://www.voting.ukscientists.com/colverse.html</a>
Includes the series of books on:
Democracy Science (starting with electoral reform and research);
Commentaries (literature and liberty; science and democracy);
Collected verse (in five books).</pre>
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Election-Methods mailing list - see <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://electorama.com/em">http://electorama.com/em</a> for list info
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