A Paper and a Book Review

Posted on June 4, 2010 by peterstone

The current issue of the journal Social Science Information (vol. 49, no. 2, June 2010) features a lead article entitled “Three Arguments for Lotteries.” In addition, the current issue of Philosophical Quarterly (vol. 60, issue 240, July 2010) features a book review of Oliver Dowlen’s The Political Potential of Sortition. The relevant links are as follows:

http://ssi.sagepub.com/current.dtl

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/117997268/home

The author of both pieces, Peter Stone, is a noted authority on lotteries. I recommend his work very highly to you all (he says tongue firmly planted in cheek).

Filed under: Distribution by lot, Sortition, Theory | 2 Comments »

A New Experimental Study

Posted on May 6, 2010 by peterstone

Here’s a paper that uses experiments to understand popular attitudes towards coin tossing–

“Decisions by coin toss: Inappropriate but fair” by Gideon Keren & Karl Teigen. Judgment and Decision Making, April 2010, Pages 83-101.

Abstract: In many situations of indeterminacy, where people agree that no decisive arguments favor one alternative to another, they are still strongly opposed to resolving the dilemma by a coin toss. The robustness of this judgment-decision discrepancy is demonstrated in several experiments, where factors like the importance of consequences, similarity of alternatives, conflicts of opinion, outcome certainty, type of randomizer, and fairness considerations are systematically explored. Coin toss is particularly inappropriate in cases of life and death, even when participants agree that the protagonists should have the same chance of being saved. Using a randomizer may seem to conflict with traditional ideas about argument-based rationality and personal responsibility of the decision maker. Moreover, a concrete randomizer like a coin appears more repulsive than the abstract principle of using a random device. Concrete randomizers may, however, be admissible to counteract potential partiality. Implications of the aversion to use randomizers, even under circumstances in which there are compelling reasons to do so, are briefly discussed.

Filed under: Distribution by lot, Experiments | 4 Comments »

Media vouchers

Posted on March 13, 2010 by Yoram Gat

Anticipating the supposed upcoming collapse of the corporate news system, Robert McChesney and John Nichols are looking for ways to fund the news media (book, interview). They support a voucher system.

The idea is very simple: every American adult gets a $200 voucher she can use to donate money to any nonprofit news medium of her choice. […] This funding mechanism is the centerpiece of our policy recommendations, and we mean for it to apply to public, community and all other nonprofit broadcasters and the new generation of post-corporate newspapers as well as Internet upstarts. […] Qualifying media ought not, in our view, be permitted to accept advertising; this is a sector that is to have a direct and primary relationship with its audience. These media can accept tax-deductible donations from individuals or foundations to supplement their income. […] We would also suggest that for a medium to receive funds it would have to get […] at least 100 people to sign on.

The authors do not state this explicitly, but it seems that their conception of the voucher system for news media is very similar to the standard conception of the electoral system for government. Continue reading →

Filed under: Distribution by lot, Elections | 5 Comments »

Lotteries for Cab Licenses

Posted on March 2, 2010 by peterstone

Just when you thought the anti-lottery arguments couldn’t get any stupider…

http://www.southmanchesterreporter.co.uk/news/s/1194246_black_cab_lottery_draw_will_discriminate_against_muslims

I would suggest that anyone who thinks that simply entering a lottery for a cab license is “blasphemous” needs to read Thomas Gataker’s The Nature and Use of Lots (now back in print thanks to Conall Boyle). It’s almost 4 centuries old, but it’s more up-to-date than the religious texts that many of these folks are using to control their lives.

Filed under: Distribution by lot | 5 Comments »

WPSA?

Posted on February 8, 2010 by peterstone

Calling all academics–is anyone planning to attend the upcoming annual meeting of the Western Political Science Association (WPSA) in San Francisco? It’s going to be held on April 1-3. Joel Parker (another Kleroterian) and I will be presenting papers on Saturday Afternoon (April 3), and I gather the panel still needs a discussant. Let me know if you’re interested.

Here’s the web address for the WPSA, with information about the meeting–

http://www.csus.edu/org/wpsa/mtgs.stm

And as for my WPSA paper–well, hopefully, the Kleroterians will be hearing about it shortly. (I hope to have a draft ready to circulate later this week.)

Filed under: Distribution by lot, Theory | 5 Comments »

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