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2018　Social Modeling A

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Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
Iwai Atsushi 
Class Format
Lecture     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Mon5-6(S222)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.T107
Credits
1
Academic year
2018
Offered quarter
3Q
Syllabus updated
2018/3/20
Lecture notes updated
2018/11/20
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

This course presents basic techniques to model social decision-making procedures. As major topics, conceptual components of social choice theory are to be lectured. Social choice theory is a theoretical framework for analysis of combining individual preferences to reach a collective decision. It relates Condorcet's voting paradox and Arrow's impossibility theorem. The scope of this course also includes topics of the informational basis in decision making. The aim of this course is to provide the students with an opportunity for acquiring a conceptual understanding of social decision-making and an opportunity for developing independent research interests in this field.

Student learning outcomes

Each student is expected to understand the basic framework of social choice theory and Arrow's impossibility theorem.

Keywords

voting, rationality, social choice theory, Arrow's impossibility theorem

Competencies that will be developed

✔ Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills Communication skills ✔ Critical thinking skills Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Major topics related to social choice theory are to be learned through lectures and discussions. Students are encouraged to read related books and reference materials before attending classes. As most topics are mathematical, it is often required to spend much time to understand theorems and their proofs.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Representation of Relationships Understand the basic notion of two-term relationship.
Class 2 Individual Rationality Understand the basic notation method of individual rationality.
Class 3 Interpersonal Comparison of Utility Fully understand the notion of interpersonal comparison of utility.
Class 4 Representation of Preferences 1 Fully understand the notation method of social preferences.
Class 5 Representation of Preferences 2 Fully understand the notation method of personal preferences.
Class 6 Social Choice 1 Understand social welfare function (SWF) in Arrow's theory.
Class 7 Social Choice 2 Understand the basic structure of Arrow's impossibility theorem.
Class 8 Summary Understand the basic framework of social choice theory.

Textbook(s)

A book will be selected at the beginning of the course.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Amartya Sen, Collective Choice and Social Welfare, North-Holland.

Assessment criteria and methods

During the term, small examinations are held in many times. There also will be two hand-written reports. Assessment will be based on: small examinations (total 50%), and two hand-written reports (25% each; total 50%). (Full attendance is assumed in this calculation.)

Related courses

  • LAH.T209 ： Social Modeling B
  • LAH.T308 ： Social Modeling C
  • LAH.T108 ： Decision Making A
  • LAH.T208 ： Decision Making B
  • LAH.T307 ： Decision Making C

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

Students who like mathematics or logic are all welcomed.

Contact information (e-mail and phone)    Notice : Please replace from "[at]" to "@"(half-width character).

Atsushi IWAI, iwai[at]si.gunma-u.ac.jp

Office hours

Instructor's office: Rm 813, 8 Fl., West Bldg. 9. Contact by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment.

Other

This course includes the content of science.

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