2 REMARKS ON THE EFFECT OF INCREASED EQUALITARIANISM IN DECISIONAL SKILLS ON THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT MAXIMIZES GROUP JUDGMENTAL COMPETENCE

Employing the symmetric uncertain dichotomous choice model, this paper is concerned with the effect of two types of changes in individual de cisional competencies on the optimal collective decision rule and, in particular, on the optimal number of essential decision makers (indivi duals who are effectively involved in the decision-making process). Th e first change is simply a decrease in the decisional skills of some o f the existing more competent essential decision makers. The second ch ange is a rank and mean-preserving equalization of decisional skills. We show that the number of essential decision makers is not necessaril y positively related to both of these changes. This surprising observa tion implies that a more egalitarian distribution of decisional skills may justify a reduction in the optimal number of individuals effectiv ely participating in the collective decision-making process.