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2021　Social Modeling B

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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.)
Mon1-2(W611)  Thr1-2(W611)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.T209
Credits
2
Academic year
2021
Offered quarter
4Q
Syllabus updated
2021/3/22
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

This course presents basic theories that concern models of social decision-making procedures. As a major topic, important theorems of social choice theory are to be lectured. The scope of this course includes topics of democracy, decision support, welfarism, and consequentialism. Various voting methods are also to be introduced in the course, some of them seems to be especially attractive in the information age. The aim of this course is to provide the students with an opportunity for acquiring theories about social decision making and an opportunity for developing independent research interests in this field.

Student learning outcomes

Each student is expected to understand the proof of Arrow's impossibility theorem and some major theorems with majority rule.

Keywords

social choice theory, Arrow's Impossibility theorem, majority rule, rationality

Competencies that will be developed

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

Class flow

Many topics related social decision-making are to be learned through lectures and discussions. Students are encouraged to read related books and reference materials before attending classes. It is also advisable to spend much time to prepare for oral discussions.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Irrationality in decision making Understand some Irrational aspects in personal and social decision makings.
Class 2 Notation Method of Social Choice 1 Understand the basic notation method of preference.
Class 3 Notation Method of Social Choice 2 Understand a set of results for quasi-orderings.
Class 4 Notation Method of Social Choice 3 Understand the notion of compatibility.
Class 5 Notation Method of Social Choice 4 Understand the notion of choice function.
Class 6 Rational Choice Understand the notion of rational choice.
Class 7 Collective Choice Rules Understand the notation method of collective choice rule.
Class 8 Pareto Comparisons Understand the notion of Pareto comparisons.
Class 9 Social Welfare Function Understand the notion of Social Welfare Function.
Class 10 Arrow's Impossibility Theorem Understand the proof of Arrow's Impossibility Theorem.
Class 11 Social Decision Function and Possibility Theorems Understand the notion of Social Decision Function and some of Sen's Possibility Theorems.
Class 12 The Notion of Majority Rule The basic notation method for majority rule is to be introduced. Students are expected to understand the method and relating some major formula.
Class 13 Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Rational Choice Understand the necessary and sufficient conditions for rational choice in using majority rule.
Class 14 Welfarism and Non-Welfarism Understand the views of Welfarism and Non-Welfarism

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

No textbook will be used this semester.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

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

Assessment criteria and methods

During the term, small examinations or various exercises are held. There will also be three hand-written reports. Assessment will be based on exercises and exercises (total 30%), and; three hand-written reports (total 70%). (Full attendance is assumed in this calculation. ) Please be aware that submission of all homework assignments or full attendance does not guarantee credit will be awarded.

Related courses

  • LAH.T107 ： Social Modeling A
  • 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.)

It is recommendable to finish the course Social Modeling A beforehand, although it is not a necessary condition.

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

Atsushi IWAI，iwai[at]gunma-u.ac.jp

Office hours

Contact Personnel (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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