Arrow's theorem, ultrafilters, and reverse mathematics

DOI10.1017/S1755020324000054arXiv2306.06471MaRDI QIDQ6439893FDOQ6439893

Authors: Benedict Eastaugh 

Publication date: 10 June 2023

Abstract: This paper initiates the reverse mathematics of social choice theory, studying Arrow's impossibility theorem and related results including Fishburn's possibility theorem and the Kirman--Sondermann theorem within the framework of reverse mathematics. We formalise fundamental notions of social choice theory in second-order arithmetic, yielding a definition of countable society which is tractable in $mathsf{RCA}_0$. We then show that the Kirman--Sondermann analysis of social welfare functions can be carried out in $mathsf{RCA}_0$. This approach yields a proof of Arrow's theorem in $mathsf{RCA}_0$, and thus in $mathrmPRA$, since Arrow's theorem can be formalised as a $P{i}_1^0$ sentence. Finally we show that Fishburn's possibility theorem for countable societies is equivalent to $mathsf{ACA}_0$ over $mathsf{RCA}_0$.

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Social choice (91B14) Voting theory (91B12) Foundations of classical theories (including reverse mathematics) (03B30) Second- and higher-order arithmetic and fragments (03F35)

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