Collective Decisions in Competitive and Collective Contexts

PI: Amparo María Mármol Conde

Abstract: The general aim of this project is the investigation of collective decision-making where the interaction between the agents involved is a relevant issue and has an important effect on the results. These situations are common in numerous economic, social and political environments and can be represented by strategic and cooperative models of decision. This goal is complemented with the research of innovative procedures devoted to the evaluation of alternatives and organizations, which can be considered a first step in decision-making processes.  

The project is carried out by a consolidated research group of mathematicians and economists from Seville University and from Pablo de Olavide University who are developing their research activities in the field of Decision Theory, specifically on Group Decision Making and Game Theory. A first line of research is devoted to strategic decision making with other-regarding agents. We investigate the decision-making processes faced by this type of agent and the implications of their actions on individual and social welfare. In addition, we consider contexts in which the information on agents’ preferences is incomplete and analyze situations in which the attitude towards risk and the uncertainty about the results of the interaction constitute relevant aspects. A second line of research is devoted to cooperative approaches and group decision-making, including evaluation procedures. This line is focused on three different types of problems: Cost sharing and allocation of the benefits of cooperation; ranking of alternatives and design of indicators; assessment of the efficiency of organizations and identification of improvement targets.