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An analytical framework for aggregating multiattribute utility functions

  • Theoretical Paper
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Journal of the Operational Research Society

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.

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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.

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Correspondence to J González-Pachón.

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González-Pachón, J., Romero, C. An analytical framework for aggregating multiattribute utility functions. J Oper Res Soc 57, 1241–1247 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jors.2602103

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jors.2602103

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