Duncan Black
Encyclopedia
Duncan Black was a Scottish
economist
who laid the foundations of social choice theory
. In particular he was responsible for unearthing the work of many early political scientists, including Charles Dodgson, and was responsible for the Black electoral system, a Condorcet method
whereby, in the absence of a Condorcet winner (e.g. due to a cycle), the Borda
winner is chosen.
Black was born in Motherwell, Scotland, an industrial town south east of Glasgow, to a working class family. He graduated from the Dalziel Highschool in Motherwell and then studied mathematics and physics at the University of Glasgow
. He then enrolled for a degree in economics and politics which he finished with first class honors in 1932. He started teaching at the newly formed Dundee School of Economics (later part of the University of Dundee
). There Black was influenced by his colleague Ronald Coase
, originator of the Theory of the Firm
. Black later taught at the University College of North Wales (now Bangor University
) and Glasgow.
Black had a hard time finding venues for publishing his work, and some of it was self published and he remained relatively unknown. Black also had visiting positions in the United States
, at the universities of Rochester
, Chicago
, Virginia
and Michigan State
. These occurred after William H. Riker
reviewed his work in 1961. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1980.
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
who laid the foundations of social choice theory
Social choice theory
Social choice theory is a theoretical framework for measuring individual interests, values, or welfares as an aggregate towards collective decision. A non-theoretical example of a collective decision is passing a set of laws under a constitution. Social choice theory dates from Condorcet's...
. In particular he was responsible for unearthing the work of many early political scientists, including Charles Dodgson, and was responsible for the Black electoral system, a Condorcet method
Condorcet method
A Condorcet method is any single-winner election method that meets the Condorcet criterion, which means the method always selects the Condorcet winner if such a candidate exists. The Condorcet winner is the candidate who would beat each of the other candidates in a run-off election.In modern...
whereby, in the absence of a Condorcet winner (e.g. due to a cycle), the Borda
Borda count
The Borda count is a single-winner election method in which voters rank candidates in order of preference. The Borda count determines the winner of an election by giving each candidate a certain number of points corresponding to the position in which he or she is ranked by each voter. Once all...
winner is chosen.
Black was born in Motherwell, Scotland, an industrial town south east of Glasgow, to a working class family. He graduated from the Dalziel Highschool in Motherwell and then studied mathematics and physics at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. He then enrolled for a degree in economics and politics which he finished with first class honors in 1932. He started teaching at the newly formed Dundee School of Economics (later part of the University of Dundee
University of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
). There Black was influenced by his colleague Ronald Coase
Ronald Coase
Ronald Harry Coase is a British-born, American-based economist and the Clifton R. Musser Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Chicago Law School. After studying with the University of London External Programme in 1927–29, Coase entered the London School of Economics, where he took...
, originator of the Theory of the Firm
Theory of the firm
The theory of the firm consists of a number of economic theories that describe the nature of the firm, company, or corporation, including its existence, behavior, structure, and relationship to the market.-Overview:...
. Black later taught at the University College of North Wales (now Bangor University
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
) and Glasgow.
Black had a hard time finding venues for publishing his work, and some of it was self published and he remained relatively unknown. Black also had visiting positions in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, at the universities of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
, Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and Michigan State
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. These occurred after William H. Riker
William H. Riker
William Harrison Riker was an American political scientist who applied game theory and mathematics to political science....
reviewed his work in 1961. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 1980.
Archives
The archives for Duncan Black are maintained by the Archives of the University of Glasgow (GUAS)Archives of the University of Glasgow
The Archives of the University of Glasgow maintain the historical records of the University of Glasgow back to its foundation in 1451. Its earliest record is a charter dating from 1304 for the lands of the earliest mention of record-keeping in the University is in 1490 when it is recorded in...
.
Further reading
- Bernard Grofman, "Black, Duncan," The New Palgrave: A Dictionary of Economics, v. 1, pp. 250–51.