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The dark side of the vote: biased voters, social information, and information aggregation through majority voting
[working paper]
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Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung gGmbH
Abstract We experimentally investigate information aggregation through majority voting when some voters are biased. In such situations, majority voting can have a dark side, that is, result in groups making choices inferior to those made by individuals acting alone. In line with theoretical predictions, info... view more
We experimentally investigate information aggregation through majority voting when some voters are biased. In such situations, majority voting can have a dark side, that is, result in groups making choices inferior to those made by individuals acting alone. In line with theoretical predictions, information on the popularity of policy choices is beneficial when a minority of voters are biased, but harmful when a majority is biased. In theory, information on the success of policy choices elsewhere de-biases voters and alleviates the inefficiency. However, in the experiment, providing social information on success is ineffective and does not de-bias voters. (author's abstract)... view less
Keywords
information; aggregation; majority election; voter; group; political decision; behavior
Classification
Social Psychology
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Document language
English
Publication Year
2013
City
Berlin
Page/Pages
58 p.
Series
Discussion Papers / Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung, Forschungsschwerpunkt Markt und Entscheidung, Abteilung Verhalten auf Märkten, SP II 2013-209
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/10419/86141
Status
Published Version; reviewed
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications