Structure of single-peaked preferences

Abstract

The paper studies a variety of domains of preference orders that are closely related to single-peaked preferences. We develop recursive formulas for the number of single-peaked preference profiles and the number of preference profiles that are single-peaked on a circle. The number of Arrow’s single-peaked preference profiles is found for three, four, and five alternatives. Random sampling applications are discussed. For restricted tier preference profiles, a forbidden subprofiles characterization and an exact enumeration formula are obtained. It is also shown that each Fishburn’s preference profile is single-peaked on a circle preference profile, and Fishburn’s preference profiles cannot be characterized by forbidden subprofiles.