Research

Putting Context into Preference Aggregation. (with Karl Schlag)

The axioms underlying Arrow's impossibility theorem are very restrictive in terms of what can be used when aggregating preferences. Social preferences may not depend on the menu nor on preferences over alternatives outside the menu. But context matters. So we weaken these restrictions to allow for context to be included. The context as we define describes which alternatives in the menu and which preferences over alternatives outside the menu matter. We obtain unique representations. These are discussed in examples involving markets, bargaining and intertemporal well-being of an individual. Proofs are constructive and insightful.

"Sorry, you have to make an appointment!": Consumer Search in Service Markets.

Axiomatizing Preferences over Varying Time Horizons