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The elimination paradox: apportionment in the Democratic Party

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Listed:
  • Michael A. Jones

    (Mathematical Reviews)

  • David McCune

    (William Jewell College)

  • Jennifer Wilson

    (Eugene Lang College, The New School)

Abstract

To award delegates in their presidential primary elections, the US Democratic Party uses Hamilton’s method of apportionment after eliminating any candidates (and their votes) that receive less than 15% of the total votes cast. We illustrate how a remaining candidate may have his or her delegate total decline as a result of other candidates being eliminated; this leads to a new elimination paradox. We relate that paradox to the new states, no show, and population paradoxes and show that divisor methods are not susceptible to the elimination paradox. We conclude with instances in which the elimination paradox may occur in other contexts, including parliamentary systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael A. Jones & David McCune & Jennifer Wilson, 2019. "The elimination paradox: apportionment in the Democratic Party," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 178(1), pages 53-65, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:178:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s11127-018-0608-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11127-018-0608-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Moulin, Herve, 1988. "Condorcet's principle implies the no show paradox," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 53-64, June.
    2. Barnett,William A. & Moulin,Hervé & Salles,Maurice & Schofield,Norman J. (ed.), 1995. "Social Choice, Welfare, and Ethics," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521443401, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jones, Michael A. & McCune, David & Wilson, Jennifer M., 2020. "New quota-based apportionment methods: The allocation of delegates in the Republican Presidential Primary," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 122-137.
    2. Balázs R Sziklai & Károly Héberger, 2020. "Apportionment and districting by Sum of Ranking Differences," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, March.
    3. David McCune, 2023. "The Many Apportionment Paradoxes of the 2020 Iowa Democratic Presidential Caucuses," The Mathematical Intelligencer, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 55-63, March.

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