Common decision making. Investigation of decision procedures by means of mathematical tools (Q904124)

The book gives a good overview of the theory of social choice (``common decision making''). In Chapter 2, general decision processes are defined given by a triple of components: alternatives, criteria, decision procedures. A lot of procedures are presented from simple majority rules up to geometric concepts. In Chapter 3, properties of decision procedures are discussed: neutrality, symmetry, monotonicity, Pareto-condition, independence of irrelevant alternatives, consistency a.o. 3.3 has a focus on the Condorcet condition, 3.4 on the famous dictator theorem of Arrow, 3.5 on relations between of axiomatic approaches of Arrow, Borda, Chernoff. The short Chapter 4 discusses the distribution of power, especially the Banzhaf index. The final Chapter 5 introduces the theory of binary relations (complete and asymmetric) between alternatives: tournaments. The relations between tournaments and some of the presented decision processes of Chapter 2 are analyzed using methods of graph theory. Definitions and propositions are accompanied by a lot of detailed, partially realistic examples. The book is proper for all interested in methods and problems of social choice.