An analytical framework for aggregating multiattribute utility functions

Abstract

This paper proposes a procedure for aggregating individual cardinal utility functions into a social utility function that represents the preferences of all the individuals as a whole. The procedure is non-interactive and is based upon the determination of the utility consensus values. This is accomplished by minimizing a distance function model that is transformed into an Archimedean goal programming problem. The procedure is applied to a general group multilinear utility function.

Keywords:

• social choice
• aggregation of preferences
• goal programming
• utility

Acknowledgements

A preliminary version of this paper was presented at the XVII MCDM Conference (Whistler, Canada, August, 2004). This research was funded by the Spanish ‘Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia’ under grant SEY2005-04392. Comments raised by a reviewer are highly appreciated. We would like to thank Mrs Rachel Elliott for editing the English.