| Edition |
First edition. |
| Description |
xii, 338 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages [293]-324) and index. |
| Summary |
At least five U.S. presidential elections have been won by the second most popular candidate, because of "spoilers"--minor candidates who take enough votes away from the most popular candidate to tip the election. The spoiler effect is a consequence of the "impossibility theorem," discovered by Nobel laureate economist Kenneth Arrow, which asserts that voting is fundamentally unfair--and political strategists are exploiting the mathematical faults of the simple majority vote. This book presents a solution to the spoiler problem: a system called range voting, already widely used on the Internet, is the fairest voting method of all, according to computer studies. Range voting remains controversial, however, and author Poundstone assesses the obstacles confronting any attempt to change the American electoral system. |
| Contents |
The problem. Game theory ; The big bang ; A short history of vote splitting ; The most evil man in America ; Run, Ralph, run! ; Year of the spoiler -- The solution. Trouble in Kiribati ; The new Belfry ; Instant runoff ; Who's afraid of the big bad cycle? ; Buckley and the clones ; Bad Santa ; Last man standing ; Hot or not? ; Present but not voting -- The reality. The way democracy will be ; Blue man coup. |
| Subject |
Elections -- United States.
|
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Voting -- United States.
|
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Politics, Practical -- United States.
|
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Game theory.
|
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United States -- Politics and government.
|
| ISBN |
9780809048939 hardcover alkaline paper |
|
0809048930 hardcover alkaline paper |
|
