Economics

It is conceptually possible for a majority of rational individuals to vote for a political outcome that few of them prefer. Suppose that there is an economy composed of individuals A, B, C deciding the best political outcomes, X, Y, and Z. A prefers X to Y to Z B prefers Y to X to Z individual C prefers Z to X to Y. If C has a higher expressive preference than A and B, then he can brive either A or B to vote for Z (compensation for the opportuntity cost). There is another way for distorting the societal preference. Now, suppose that individual A prefers X to Y to Z B prefers Y to Z to X and C prefers Z to X to Y. Let us say that the first choice is between Y and Z, the societal choice would be Y. Now, if the second choice is between X and Z, the societal choice would be Z. Via transitivity, Y is preferred over Z. Note that this is a distorted form of transitivity because choices are ordered (majority of the voters do not prefer Y over Z if the election is not multi-staged).

From the perspective of rational choice theory, the decision is irrational. Note that the only means for the individual to maximize utility is to sign up (to get a kidney transplant as soon as possible). Note that the parent has a capability to pull the strings. Evaluating benefits over costs, it is also clear that this decision is also logical. The parent has a high chance of securing a kidney transplant for his child. Now, this high probability of securing a kidney transplant is synonymous with benefit, potential benefit. As such, it would be logical for the parent to sign up on the list. However, the parents decision to sign at the bottom of the list is influenced by social, legal, and moral norms. Socially, urgency is the determining factor of signing in the list. In short, Olivias parent is not only the concerned parent, as far as kidney transplant is concerned. Legally, signing up on the list may be forbidden by law because it violates individual justice (equal opportunity to means). Morally, Olivias parents action does not respect the principle of equal play.