Asks Quote by Kenneth Arrow
![“In my [Impossibility] theorem I'm assuming that the information is a ranking. Each voter can say of any two candidates, I prefer this one to this one. So then we have essentially a ranking. It's a list saying this is my first choice. This is my second choice. Each voter, in principle, could be…” quote by Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9eb/kenneth-arrow-14948_asks_in-my-impossibility-theorem-i-m-assuming_2448414.jpg){kind=icon}
“In my [Impossibility] theorem I'm assuming that the information is a ranking. Each voter can say of any two candidates, I prefer this one to this one. So then we have essentially a ranking. It's a list saying this is my first choice. This is my second choice. Each voter, in principle, could be asked to give that entire piece of information. In the ordinary Plurality Voting, say as used in electing Congressmen, we generally only ask for the first choice. But, in principle, we could ask for more choices.”
About This Quote
Source Paper: Social Choice and Individual Values, Kenneth Arrow, 1951
The quote discusses the assumption that voters provide a complete ranking of candidates, not just a single top choice, highlighting the difference between full ranking voting systems and simple plurality voting.
In simple terms: Voters can rank all candidates, but usually only the top choice is used.
Key Takeaway
Consider using ranked voting for richer preferences.
Themes
democracy
voting systems
preference expression
Mood
analytical
critical
informative
Type
theoretical
policy-oriented
When to use this quote
- elections
- policy design
- candidate selection
- public opinion surveys
Key Concepts
social choice theory
ranking
information richness
Questions to Reflect On
- How would full rankings affect election outcomes?
- What barriers prevent voters from providing complete rankings?
A Different Perspective
Implementing full rankings can be complex and time‑consuming for voters.
![“There's only one problem that bothers me. And that's something my theorem [ of Impossibility] really doesn't cover. In my theorem I was assuming people vote sincerely. The trouble with methods where you have three or four classes, I think if people vote sincerely they may well be very…” quote by Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/151/kenneth-arrow-14948_assuming_there-s-only-one-problem-that-bothers-me_1913180.jpg){kind=icon}
