Year: 1978
Type: article
Abstract: Within a range of circumstances it appears \nto be possible to control a group's \ndecision by controlling only the agenda. \nThe boundaries of the range over which the \nagenda is such an overwhelmingly important \nparameter are not yet known, and the \nexact principles upon which the influence \nrests have not been identified. However, the \nresearch results reported below provide a \nfirst step in answering these questions. \n \nOur approach to this problem originated \nin both practical and theoretical considerations. \nAs a practical matter, we were involved \nin an important and complex committee \ndecision. A large flying club in which \nwe held membership was meeting to vote \nupon the size and composition of the aircraft \nfleet which would be available to the \nmembership for flying. As members we had \npreferences about the fleet available to us \nand an opportunity to shape the agenda. \nPreliminary discussions and meetings had \nnarrowed the range of possibilities greatly \nfrom hundreds of thousands of competing \nalternatives to a few hundred. Over these \nremaining possibilities, however, there were \nconflicting and strongly held opinions. The \ngroup was to meet once and decide the issue \nby majority vote.
Authors: Charles R. Plott, Michael E. Levine
Language: English
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: National Science Foundation
OpenAlex ID: W1581383196