Metaorders in social choice

Abstract

This paper states the problem of social choice in terms of Arrow's axioms, and describes the possible interpretations and formal assumptions about interpersonal comparisons of utility needed to extend the information framework of Arrow's impossibility theorem. Finally, an alternative approach to measure the strength of preference of group members over a finite set of alternatives is suggested, using the concept of "second-order preferences", whereby the individual ranks the possible orderings of the alternatives.