Rationalizable variable-population choice functions (Q5960806)

The authors examine the rationalizability of choice functions in a general variable-population welfarist framework, where the objects to be chosen are feasible utility vectors of variable dimension. They characterize classes of choice functions that are rationalizable by variable-population social orderings. What distinguish the authors' approach from the somewhat similar analysis of bargaining theory is that, in their formulation, population size is to be chosen as well (in bargaining theory with variable population, the set of agents is given for each problem and is not a matter of choice). The fixed-population restrictions of the authors' choice functions can be interpreted as bargaining solutions.