https://hdl.handle.net/10419/40240 Sat, 07 Nov 2026 02:01:52 GMT 2026-11-07T02:01:52Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/336791 Title: Aristotle's social choice Authors: Tanguiane, Andranick S. Abstract: We describe Aristotle's mathematical model of weighted voting to explain and implement decision-making in democracies, oligarchies and the mixed states that combine elements of both systems. This model, originally presented in textual form, extends the known history of social choice theory back 450 years to the mid-4th century BC. The fact that the origins of the social choice theory go back to one of the most influential thinkers of all time enhances its scientific and historical significance. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/336791 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/340002 Title: Rethinking tobacco control: The global case for differentiated regulation of smoke-free alternatives Authors: Lavee, Doron; Steidl, Florian Abstract: Over the past years, governments have made substantial progress in tobacco control through higher taxes, advertising bans, and public smoking restrictions. Yet, in many advanced economies, smoking rates have stopped falling despite these strong measures. This stagnation suggests that traditional approaches, focused solely on discouraging all nicotine use, may have reached their limits. Simultaneously, the emergence of novel nicotine delivery systems - such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches - has introduced a new dynamic. Although these products are not risk-free, they are generally associated with a significant reduction in toxicant exposure relative to conventional cigarettes. Policy responses to this technological development vary: some countries have adopted regulatory frameworks that differentiate products based on their relative health risks, while others apply uniform restrictions across all nicotine-containing products. This study analyzes the effect of these divergent regulatory frameworks on smoking prevalence across a cohort of 42 highly developed countries (Human Development Index (HDI) > 0.83). Using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression models controlling for development levels (measured by HDI index) and taxation levels, the findings indicate that countries adopting a differentiated, risk-proportionate policy exhibit smoking rates approximately 7 percentage points lower than those maintaining non-differentiated regulatory regimes. Furthermore, the analysis reveals that in this high-HDI cohort, differences in taxation levels alone no longer explain the variance in smoking prevalence, highlighting the importance of product substitution toward lower-risk nicotine products in sustaining progress in tobacco control. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/340002 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/343538 Title: Auctions versus posted prices with costly entry and outside options Authors: Potarca, Matthias Abstract: The decline of auction-format sales in favor of posted prices on digital marketplaces is commonly attributed to behavioral biases or secular changes in the market environment. This paper examines the latter by jointly modeling two forms of buyer opportunity cost within a standard symmetric independent private values framework: an entry cost sunk upon auction participation, and a mechanism-independent outside option reflecting the surplus a buyer can obtain from a close substitute at a known market price. A seller chooses between a second-price auction and a posted price; potential buyers decide whether to participate after observing their private valuations. The outside option endogenously partitions buyers into low-value types, who bid their full valuation, and high-value types, whose bids are capped at the outside option price, giving rise to qualitatively distinct entry regimes that the seller anticipates and actively shapes. Pressure from either channel strictly erodes the auction's advantage, but the seller's response to the two is asymmetric. The model yields testable implications that qualitatively align well with observed patterns and place weight on the outside option channel as a driver for the shift towards posted prices. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/343538 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/319615 Title: Deliberation in group decisions: Polarization and like-mindedness Authors: Jachimowicz, Jessica; Puppe, Clemens Abstract: Deliberative decision-making is often proposed as a mechanism to mitigate polarization in democratic processes. However, empirical evidence remains mixed, with some studies suggesting that deliberation among like-minded individuals can drive preference shifts toward extremes. We use a three-round group dictator game to systematically examine how group composition influences deliberative outcomes. Our design allows us to compare deliberation within like-minded and mixed-minded groups while also manipulating the voting rule (median vs. unanimity) to assess its impact on decision-making. Contrary to expectations of polarization, we find that deliberation moderates preferences across all conditions. This effect is strongest for selfish participants in mixed-minded groups, but also like-minded selfish groups behave significantly less extreme than individuals. On the other hand, the moderating effect of deliberation does not persist when subjects revert back to individual decision-making. Regardless of the voting rule, groups tend to converge on unanimous decisions, suggesting norm-driven behavior in deliberative and participatory settings. Our findings contribute to ongoing debates on the role of group composition and decision rules in shaping collective outcomes in social dilemmas. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/319615 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z