Mathematics to the Rescue of Democracy

What does Voting Mean and How can it be Improved?

Paolo Serafini (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

XIII, 135 Seiten

2020 | 1st ed. 2020
Springer International Publishing (Verlag)
978-3-030-38367-1 (ISBN)

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This book explains, in a straightforward way, the foundations upon which electoral techniques are based in order to shed new light on what we actually do when we vote. The intention is to highlight the fact that no matter how an electoral system has been designed, and regardless of the intentions of those who devised the system, there will be goals that are impossible to achieve but also opportunities for improving the situation in an informed way. While detailed descriptions of electoral systems are not provided, many references are made to current or past situations, both as examples and to underline particular problems and shortcomings. In addition, a new voting method that avoids the many paradoxes of voting theory is described in detail. While some knowledge of mathematics is required in order to gain the most from the book, every effort has been made to ensure that the subject matter is easily accessible for non-mathematicians, too. In short, this is a book for anyone who wants to understand the meaning of voting.

Paolo Serafini was Professor of Operations Research in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Sciences, University of Udine, Italy for more than 25 years until his retirement in 2016. He graduated in Electronic Engineering (maximum cum laude) in 1971 and subsequently became a lecturer in the Udine Branch of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Trieste before joining the Faculty of Sciences, University of Udine in 1978. In addition to his extensive teaching activity, Dr. Serafini has been a researcher at the International Center for Mechanical Sciences (CISM), Udine since 1975. He was appointed Scientific Editor of the CISM–Springer Lecture Notes series in 2005. He is the author of more than 40 journal papers and four books and has also edited six books.

1. Voting.- 2 Aggregating different evaluations into a unique evaluation.- 3 Condorcet.- 4 Borda.- 5 Simple majority and run-off voting.- 6 Impossible wishes.- 7 Majority Judgement.- 8 Legislative territorial representation.- 9 The United States Congress.- 10 Legislative political representation.- 11 Biproportional representation.- 12 Political districting.- 13 Some additional considerations (and personal).- References.- Index.

"Paolo Serafini has the merit of presenting in a synthetic and pedagogical way the main aspects of the voting theory. This book would be well suited for undergraduate and graduate students who are new to voting theory ... . the book is very enjoyable to read ... . The present book adds its stone to the series of books on voting theory while distinguishing itself by its pedagogy and simplicity." (Eric Kamwa, Journal of Economics, Vol. 134, 2021)

"This book exposes a variety of social choice systems ... . The electoral rules for the formation of the government of several countries are discussed, as examples of application of different aggregation methods, their particular problems and shortcomings are highlighted and opportunities of improvement underlined." (Annibal Parracho Sant'Anna, zbMATH 1476.91002, 2022)

Erscheinungsdatum	06.03.2020
Zusatzinfo	XIII, 135 p. 12 illus., 2 illus. in color.
Verlagsort	Cham
Sprache	englisch
Original-Titel	La matematica in soccorso della democrazia: Cosa significa votare e come si può migliorare il voto
Maße	155 x 235 mm
Gewicht	244 g
Themenwelt	Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik ► Naturwissenschaft
Themenwelt	Mathematik / Informatik ► Mathematik ► Mathematische Spiele und Unterhaltung
Schlagworte	Arrow impossibility theorem • Biproportional apportionment • Gerrymandering • Majority judgement • Political Districting • Seat apportionment • Social choice paradoxes • US Congress • Voting Theory
ISBN-10	3-030-38367-9 / 3030383679
ISBN-13	978-3-030-38367-1 / 9783030383671
Zustand	Neuware