The responsiveness of approval voting: Comments on Saari and Van Newenhizen

B-Tier
Journal: Public Choice
Year: 1988
Volume: 59
Issue: 2
Pages: 121-131

Authors (3)

Steven Brams (New York University) Peter Fishburn (not in RePEc) Samuel Merrill (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

Saari and Van Newenhizen (1987) misinterpret their findings about the indeterminacy of voting systems: far from being a vice, indeterminacy is a virtue in allowing voters to be more responsive to, and robbing them of the incentive to misrepresent, their preferences. The responsiveness of approval voting, in particular, means that the cardinal utilities that voters have for candidates can be reflected in voters' strategy choices, which ultimately translate into better social choices. Empirical data from a recent election support these claims, showing, among other things, that the Borda system, a determinate voting system favored by Saari and Van Newenhizen, is highly vulnerable to manipulation by strategic voters. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1988

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:kap:pubcho:v:59:y:1988:i:2:p:121-131
Journal Field
Public
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25