Social choice theory and the 'Centre de Mathematique Sociale': some historical notes

摘要

In this paper we describe some research directions in social choice and aggregation theory taken at the "Centre de Mathematique Sociale" since the fifties. We begin by presenting some institutional aspects concerning this center. Then we sketch a thematic history by considering the following questions about the "effet Condorcet" ("voting paradox"): What is it? How is it overcome? Why does it occur? These questions were adressed in Guilbaud's paper (Guilbaud GTh (1952) Les theories de l'interet general et le probleme logique de l'agregation, (Theories of the general interest and the logical problem of aggregation) which will mark the beginning of our inquiry. The conclusion outlines some more recent research developments linked to these questions.