A Sociophysics Approach to Measuring Democracy in the Decision Making of a Group: Three Indices

Abstract

A group does not usually consult all its members before every decision. This paper develops a quantitative framework for measuring how widely members are consulted in decision making within a group. Two kinds of records are considered: the number of members consulted for each decision and the number of decisions in which each member is consulted. From these records, two participation indices are defined, and their equality is proved analytically. A third index measures the fraction of decisions for which at least a specified percentage of members are consulted. The distribution of consultation levels is described using a discrete maximum-entropy model from statistical physics. Tail probabilities are used to obtain bounds for the main participation index. This study examines aggregate survey data from two groups. Their observed characteristics are broadly consistent with the patterns found across the full survey. Using binomial and Poisson calculations, the future probability that all members will be consulted for a decision is examined. Inequality in consultation among members is examined through Lorenz curves, the Gini coefficient and a normalised Shannon participation measure. The member-decision structure is represented as a bipartite network. Controlled simulations show that the same overall level of consultation can have different distributions among the members. The framework measures both the overall breadth of consultation and how consultation is distributed among the members. It therefore provides a quantitative sociophysical description of one measurable aspect of democracy in decision making within a group.