A Paradox of Voting

Cyclical Majorities and the Case of Muscle Shoals

Bibliographic Data

ID6339481
AuthorsJohn L Neufeld (University of North Carolina at Greensboro), William J Hausman (0000-0002-8542-0287, William & Mary), Ronald B Rapoport (0000-0001-5598-7373, William & Mary)
Year1994
Volume47
Issue2
Pages423-438
Publication date1994-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitical Research Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1065-9129 • E-ISSN: 1938-274X
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/106591299404700210
OpenAlexW2020443566
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited16

Although social choice theorists have long recognized the theoretical possibility of cyclical majorities in democratic settings, it has been difficult to find a clear example of cyclical voting in a real-world setting. This is at least partly due to the fact that legislative rules suppress their appearance. This paper identifies and examines a definitive and significant example of cyclical voting. The cycle occurred in a series of votes in the U.S. Senate during one week in January 1925 on the issue of what the federal government should do with the Muscle Shoals works, initiated during World War I and still a significant political issue in the 1920s

Democracy · Economics · Government (linguistics · Legislature · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Shoal · Voting · World War II · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Game Theory and Voting Systems · Law · Legal and Constitutional Studies

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