Skip to main content
Log in

Algorithmic Calculation of the Optimality Probability of Decision Rules

  • Published:
Acta Applicandae Mathematicae Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We study the dichotomous choice model under conditions of uncertainty. In this model, a committee of decision makers is required to select one of two alternatives, of which exactly one is correct. A decision rule translates the individual opinions into a group decision. We focus on the direction concerned with the identification of the optimal decision rule under partial information on the decision skills. Namely, we assume the correctness probabilities of the committee members to be independent random variables, selected from some given distribution. In addition, we assume that the ranking of the members in the committee is known. Thus, one can follow rules based on this ranking.

One of the commonly used measures of the efficiency of a decision rule is its probability of being optimal. Here we provide a method for an explicit calculation of this probability for any given weighted majority rule for a wide family of distribution functions. Moreover, under the assumption of exponentially distributed decision skills, we provide an improved algorithm for this calculation. We illustrate our results with various examples.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Baker, K.M.: Condorcet: Selected Writings. The Bobbs-Mervill, Indianapolis (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ben-Yashar, R., Paroush, J.: Optimal decision rules for fixed-size committees in polychotomous choice situations. Soc. Choice Welf. 33(18), 737–746 (2001)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  3. Berend, D., Bromberg, L.: Uniform decompositions of polytopes. Appl. Math. 33(2), 243–252 (2006)

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  4. Berend, D., Harmse, J.: Expert rule versus majority rule under partial information. Theory Dec. 35, 179–197 (1993)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  5. Berend, D., Sapir, L.: Optimality of the expert rule under partial information. Acta Appl. Math. 69, 141–162 (2001)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  6. Berend, D., Sapir, L.: Expert rule versus majority rule under partial information, II. J. Appl. Math. Dec. Sci. 6(2), 77–99 (2002)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  7. Berend, D., Sapir, L.: Between the expert and majority rules. Adv. Appl. Probab. 35, 1–20 (2003)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  8. Berend, D., Sapir, L.: Range of asymptotic behavior of the optimality probability of the expert and majority rules. J. Appl. Probab. 43, 16–31 (2006)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  9. Berend, D., Sapir, A., Sapir, L.: Decision making approach to IT problems. Preprint

  10. de Condorcet, N.C.: Essai sur l’Application de l’Analyse à la Probabilité des Décisions Rendues à la Pluralité des Voix. Paris (1785)

  11. Conitzer, V., Sandholm, T.: Common voting rules as maximum likelihood estimators. In: Proceedings of the 21st Annual Conference on Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence (UAI-05), pp. 145–152. Edinburgh, Scotland, UK (2005)

  12. Feller, W.: An Introduction to Probability Theory and its Applications, 2nd edn., vol. II. Wiley, New York (1971)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  13. Gradstein, M., Nitzan, S.: Performance evaluation of some special classes of weighted majority rules. Math. Soc. Sci. 12, 31–46 (1986)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  14. Grofman, B., Owen, G.: Condorcet models, avenues for future research. In: Information Pooling and Group Decision Making. Proceedings of the Second University of California, Irvine, Conference on Political Economy. JAI Press INC, London (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Grofman, B., Owen, G., Feld, S.: Thirteen theorems in search of the truth. Theory Dec. 15, 261–278 (1983)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  16. Karotkin, D.: Justification of the simple majority and chairman rules. Soc. Choice Welf. 13, 479–486 (1996)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  17. Karotkin, D.: The network of weighted majority rules and weighted majority games. Games Econ. Behav. 22, 299–315 (1998)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  18. Karotkin, D., Nitzan, S.: A note on restricted majority rules: invariance to rule selection and outcome distinctiveness. Soc. Choice Welf. 13(3), 269–274 (1996)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  19. Karotkin, D., Paroush, J.: Robustness of optimal decision rules where one of the team members is exceptionally qualified. Soc. Choice Welf. 26, 131–141 (2006)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  20. Karotkin, D., Schaps, M.: The network of weighted majority rules and its geometric realizations. Games Econ. Behav. 42, 75–90 (2003)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  21. McLean, I., Hewitt, F.: Condorcet: Foundations of Social Choice and Political Theory. Elgar, Brookfield (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Nitzan, S., Paroush, J.: Optimal decision rules in uncertain dichotomous choice situations. Int. Econ. Rev. 23, 289–297 (1982)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  23. Nitzan, S., Paroush, J.: Collective Decision Making. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Nurmi, H.: Past masters and their followers. In: Heiskanen, I., Hanninen, S. (eds.) Exploring the Basis Politics. The Finnish Political Science Association, Helsinki (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Reimer, T., Katsikopoulos, K.V.: The use of recognition in group decision-making. Cogn. Sci.: Multidiscip. J. 28(6), 1009–1029 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Sapir, L.: The optimality of the expert and majority rules under exponentially distributed competence. Theory Dec. 45, 19–35 (1998)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  27. Sapir, L.: Expert rule versus majority rule under partial information, III. Paper presented at the heavy tails conference, American University, Washington, 3–5 June 1999

  28. Sapir, L.: Comparison of the polar decision rules for various types of distributions. Theory Dec. 56, 325–343 (2004)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  29. Shapley, L., Grofman, B.: Optimality grouping judgmental accuracy in presence of independence. Public Choice 42, 329–343 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Urken, A.B.: The Condorcet-Jefferson connection and the origins of social choice theory. Public Choice 72, 213–236 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Urken, A.B.: Using collective decision system support to manage error in wireless sensor fusion. Information Fusion, 2005 8th International Conference on Information Fusion (FUSION), vol. 2, pp. 1605–1612, 25–28 July 2005

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luba Sapir.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Berend, D., Bromberg, L. & Sapir, L. Algorithmic Calculation of the Optimality Probability of Decision Rules. Acta Appl Math 110, 973–990 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10440-009-9489-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10440-009-9489-2

Keywords

Mathematics Subject Classification (2000)

Navigation