TOWARD AN INFORMATIONAL DYNAMICS OF COLLECTIVE CHOICE

In: Public choice, Band 39, S. 415-420

Abstract

IN THE FOLLOWING ARGUMENT, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE INFORMATIONAL DIMENSION OF SMALL-SCALE COLLECTIVE CHOICE SYSTEMS BE INTRODUCED INTO THE SET OF EXPLANATORY VARIABLES, BE ALLOWED TO FLUCTUATE WHILE THE 'COMMITTEE' IS IN SESSION AND, FINALLY, BE PERMITTED TO "FEED BACK" TO THE INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS DURING THE GROUP DECISION PROCESS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT CONSIDERATION OF THE IN-PERIOD OR 'IN-COMMITTEE' SHOCKS WHICH THIS RELEASE AND FLOW OF INFORMATION MAY BE MODELED TO HAVE ON THE PARTICIPANTS' ROUND-TO-ROUND VOTING STRATEGIES MIGHT PROVIDE A SUPPLEMENTARY EXPLANATION OF SOME OF THE ANOMALOUS RESULTS (SUCH AS THE RELATIVE RARITY OF OBSERVED CYCLING) ENCOUNTERED IN OBSERVATIONS OF COLLECTIVELY CONTROLLED SYSTEMS.