Q&A: The David Levy Effect
The David Levy Effect
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I seem to remember that you spoke about the David Levy effect, according to which in some election-related situations one should choose based on relative power, and not according to majority rule. By my sins, I end up watching Big Brother, and there they have a kind of finance minister for a week who decides the house budget for that week. One of the female contestants argued that she has never once gotten to be finance minister, and therefore she deserves to be finance minister even though most of the house opposes it. According to the David Levy effect, is she right?
What I’m really asking is: how do you decide whether a certain matter falls under the David Levy effect, or whether it should be decided by majority rule?
Best regards,
Answer
I don’t know how to offer a sweeping rule. Generally speaking, when what you want is representation, it is not correct to go by the majority. If that finance minister makes decisions in a particular direction, then it is appropriate to give the authority to decide in a proportionate measure to the minority as well.
Discussion on Answer
In principle, yes, if there is a clear difference between the policies of blacks and whites. But that is not the case, of course. Mere equal rights do not justify such a division. But representation in policy does.
Suppose there were a country in which 60 percent are black and 40 percent are white. Because the black population is the majority, they always elect a black prime minister. Wouldn’t it be more correct for there to be a white prime minister for 40 percent of the term, and a black one for 60 percent of the term?