Is Arrow's Dictator a Drinker?

TL;DR

This paper critiques Arrow's no-dictator condition, showing it does not align with the intuitive interpretation, which affects the theorem's applicability in social choice theory.

Contribution

It reveals a mismatch between Arrow's formal condition and its intuitive understanding, challenging the scope of the theorem.

Findings

Arrow's no-dictator condition is not equivalent to the intuitive notion.

Implications for the applicability of Arrow's theorem in social choice.

Reassessment of the assumptions underlying Arrow's framework.

Abstract

We critique the formulation of Arrow's no-dictator condition to show that it does not correspond to the accepted informal/intuitive interpretation. This has implications for the theorem's scope of applicability.