The inevitability of the “paradox of redistribution” in the allocation of voting weights

B-Tier
Journal: Public Choice
Year: 1978
Volume: 33
Issue: 2
Pages: 49-67

Authors (2)

Dietrich Fischer (not in RePEc) Andrew Schotter (New York University (NYU))

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

In voting bodies, when voting weights are reallocated, it may be observed that the voting power of some members, as measured by the Shapley-Shubik and Banzhaf power indices, increases while their voting weight decreases. By a simple constructive proof, this paper shows that such a “paradox of redistribution” can always occur in any voting body if the number of voters, n, is sufficiently large. Simulation results show that the paradox is quite frequent (up to 30 percent) and increases with n (at least for small n). Examples are given where the Banzhaf and Shapley-Shubik indices are not consistent in demonstrating the paradox. Copyright Martinus Nijhoff Social Sciences Division 1978

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:kap:pubcho:v:33:y:1978:i:2:p:49-67
Journal Field
Public
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29