Courses NonDegree Display 2020-2021

Course Description To PDF
Course title Social Choice Theory
Course code EBC4005
ECTS credits 6,5
Assessment Whole/Half Grades
Period
Period Start End Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
2 26-10-2020 11-12-2020 X X
Level Intermediate
Coordinator Ton Storcken
For more information: t.storcken@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Language of instruction English
Goals
In this course the student will learn to formally analyse collective decision rules w.r.t. various aspects such as anonymity, Pareto-optimality, neutrality, and strategy-profess.
Description
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHOD(S) USED IN THIS COURSE IS WITH RESERVATION. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE IS BASED ON THE COURSE SETUP PRIOR TO THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS. AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE CRISIS, COURSE COORDINATORS MAY BE FORCED TO CHANGE THE TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHODS USED. THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEACHING/ASSESSMENT METHOD(S) WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE COURSE SYLLABUS.

In collective decision-making (e.g., elections) the rules and procedures used to arrive at a decision may have a considerable impact on the final result. Different rules may lead to different decisions. In this course such rules are studied. In particular, desirable properties like Pareto-optimality and non-manipulability are investigated.
Some topics are:
- voting schemes for two alternatives, theorem of May;
- voting schemes for more than two alternatives, score rules, veto rules;
- Condorcet winners, dictatorial rules, anonymity, neutrality, positive association, impossibility theorems of Arrow, Gibbard and Satterthwaite;
- location problems;
- strategy-proof division;
- implementation.
Literature
Lecture notes.
Prerequisites
A mathematic level comparable to a BSc Econometrics & Operations Research meets the prerequisites.
Exchange students need to have obtained a Bachelor degree and an advanced level in mathematics.
An advanced level of English.
Teaching methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) PBL / Lecture
Assessment methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) Written Exam
Evaluation in previous academic year For the complete evaluation of this course please click "here"
This course belongs to the following programmes / specialisations
Master Econometrics and Operations Research Elective Course(s)
Master Economic and Financial Research - Econometrics Year 1 Core Course(s)
Master Economic and Financial Research - Econometrics Year 1 Elective Course(s)
Master Economic and Financial Research - No specialisation Year 1 Elective Course(s)
SBE Exchange Master Master Exchange Courses
SBE Non Degree Courses Master Courses