Aggregational role of voting and majority rule - Essay Example

?AGGREGATIONAL ROLE OF VOTING AND MAJORITY RULE College: Majority voting is a process that does not consider consensus during election. Its ideology is the majority number of people have a final say to determine the decision to be undertaken. Majority rule is a competitive method that consensus does not agree with in its general structure. Consensus creates a form of cooperation than competition in voting. The majority rule is however important when dealing with technical matters that require knowledge on the subject of debate. Majority voting does not allow for compromise. This is a useful factor in decision making for such matters as those of technicality than just face reasons fuelled by emotion, impulse and personal interest (Emerson 1994). Majority rule inspires alliance building. It encourages challenges amongst these groups and brings out the best qualities in the final choice. This is because competition among coalition pushes for the most refined options compared to its alternatives. Challenges as these are useful in avoidance of situations where there is ‘tyranny by the majority’ to pursue their own personal interests. Alliances formed by the minority have been known to watch dog over the welfare of the society in frameworks like this. The election process requires that the community be informed on alternative sets than all other individuals. Final decisions made are resourceful and useful for incorporating collective ideas of aggregate persons. In economics, majority voting is especially popular for market creation. When consumers decide to cast currency votes for an item of consumption businesses are forced to produce more of it in order to make profit. The decision on such goods by consumers reflect their preference on products. Majority rule voting however, only applies in a few of market products. This is because it is not applicable where the market item in question is a public good due to the free riding problem. While majority rule is often associated with democracy, plurality is concerned with the large numbers as a sample of the population’s interest. Plurality considers ideas of the most population without taking into account the overall effect proportionately. Majority rule is therefore a creation of the population’s interest compared against standards of quality so that more than half of the population agrees to the idea voted. Plurality on the other hand is a matter of the numbers whether less than half or more, this overlooks non-voters. Majority rule motivates the entire population to take part in a voting process and solidifies the final decision. To benefit from final decisions in majority rule, parties agree on the best outcome, whether the outcomes are favourable or not as long as they are outvoted. Majority rule does not provide an equilibrium decision. The concept of voting has inspired models with mathematical explanations to the given systems involved in the elections (Tideman, N 2006). In most situations, voters identify with characteristic qualities of the options in the set to be selected. When aggregate role in decision-making may de-motivate the will to participate in decision making for most of the members of the minority and the majority group, the final decision may as well be motivated by factors other than contribution and the numbers. This will include reflective concepts of the parties voting on real need to deal with facts than just numbers during decision-making. Most of the population will therefore end up making a sober and weighted decision. Majority rule addresses contrasting preferences and often results in an arbitrary choice. This gives an advantage to democratic administrative policies in governance. Democratic Rule relates to the majority rule in a paternalistic manner but has implications that could lead to instability; therefore, the democratic governance is useful when it undertakes the least (Nitzan, S.2010). This again gives the advantage of ruling to the majority cause. Democracy should restrain majority rule to effect justice without completely overruling it. Assumptions about majority rule are that citizen’s vote in an effort to resolve conflicts based on preferences. The choice of majority rule has little capacity to deal with these conflicts(Emerson, 1994) and basic component of majority rule facilitates priorities and increases the stability of performance. New administrations use power and influence to obtain special facilities within the institutions. Majority rule is useful in pushing for most common special needs among members of the society.(Heckelman, J. C 2004).The information required for decisions as these incorporates economic wisdom and the voting parties use analysis of the process entirely (Lipahart, A. 2008). UK voter turnout in the 2010 election In countries as the United Kingdom, the opinion of majority votes represents the quality opinion of experts; it shows means to democracy. Reflective ideas and arguments of the majority considered a well-refined opinion that comes not just from a single mind but is higher ground to fine decisions to address complexities in situations. The panel decisions are therefore a considerable depth of analysis and provide useful and effective management and administration for firms (Morgan, 1988). Quality of decisions made in systems of production improves with criticism and useful argument and the numbers improve overall quality of decisions made. Private concerns arise in the event that motivation by factors. The variables involved are factors of minuteturnouts or major turnouts of the entire process conclusively (Szpiro, 2010). Majority rule favours the opinion of the greater number of people in the population. It provides for improved quality in the overall products but may fail to acknowledge individual personal interest (Veblen et al 1934). This is common where people have different marginal valuations for a good.  Taking three people into consideration; Mercy, Jane and Cate. name Mercy Jane Cate total marginal cost Price of one unit of Y 17 20 28 65 2 units 23 28 42 93 3units 24 26 43 93 total marginal cost Y 64 74 113 251 Where the marginal valuations for an extra unit of a public good Y is 23pounds, 28pounds and 42pounds respectively. When the cost for an extra unit of Y is 40 pounds, only Cate will find it beneficial to give up 40 pounds and enjoy 42pounds. The other two however, will economically lose by giving up 40 pounds for an extra unit of Y which they benefit 23 and 28 pounds respectively. This way a majority rule on Y fails to acknowledge personal preferences on an economic basis. In this case, two of the numbers in question fail to quest satisfaction. In case the three friends decide to share the cost of an extra unit, the median person in order of value of money contributed gains while the other two do not benefit. In this case, majority rule fails the economic platform. It may however be useful on a political arena. This would however create an advantage for the candidate with the median vote than the one with a plurality advantage. Median advantage on the economic model may be a cause for an average quality of goods produced when the quality of goods in the market should be of the best and highest quality. This case therefore flouts the intensity of partialities. In contemporary intricacies, issues are discussed by direct vote. However, the issues are too many to address in this manner and require such knowledge and technique than commonplace citizens would have. Use of a common ground to voice opinion by majority vote therefore, will require substantial education by the responsible parties on the public. In market, awareness concerning the goods in question is useful for the voting process. In the overall voting procedure, selected people are pointed out for the exercise to determine progression of civic policy. In order to achieve these policies, assumptions are made concerning the selected persons and their motives. It is assumed that they shall vote on basis of good faith and for the best interest of the population, they represent. It is assumed that they are rational and they vote as any other represented person would if they were in the same position (Horge &Klima, 2005). Majority rule faces challenges of consistency and transitivity. As schemes, vary from in importance, rank and in status, the verge changes with propositions. Higher threshold is required for very important decisions for example amendment of a constitution.Representatives have an ostensible role in the political and economic circle. Deductive measures are useful in making good decisions for either field (Lijphart 2008). Existent models are all the same relevant in day-to-day living. Adjustments in these models happen over time. Patching process develops overall creating quality outcome of events. The voting process is dependent on the order of decision making processes. It is therefore important that laid down principles be decided and agreed upon before proceeding to the subsequent changes. Previous activities should be read from records and reasons for those decisions elucidated. This is because even path dependency is susceptible to manipulation. Assessing the model creates a clear path for decision-making and enhances transparency during election process (Morgan 1988). Bibliography. Hodge, J. K., & Klima, R. E. (2005). The mathematics of voting and elections: a hands-on approach. London: British Mathematical Society. Heckelman, J. C. (2004). Readings in public choice economics. Manchester: University of Manchester Press. Lijphart, A. (2008). Thinking about democracy: power sharing and majority rule in theory and practice. London, Routledge. Morgan, E. S. (1988). Inventing The People: The Rise Of Popular Sovereignty In England And America. London: Norton. Nitzan, S. (2010). Collective preference and choice. Yorkshire, University of York: Press. Tideman, N. (2006). Collective decisions and voting: the potential for public choice. Aldershot, England, Ashgate. Szpiro, G. (2010). Numbers Rule: The Vexing Mathematics Of Democracy, From Plato To The Present. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Emerson, P. J., & Emerson, P. J. (1994). The Politics Of Consensus: For The Resolution Of Conflict And Reform Of Majority Rule. Belfast: P.J. Emerson. Read More