Social choice theory looks at collective decisions as the aggregation of individual interests and preferences. A graduate seminar may discuss social choice theory as it applies to comparative models for voting, with the goal of finding the model that best maximizes individual interests (for example, majority rule, preference ballot, or sequential runoff.)
The efficiency of government is of concern for elected officials, economists, and international policy makers. Graduate seminars may examine social factors in determining government efficiency such as property rights, education levels, income distribution, and public sector competence.
Political economy often focuses on the relationship between government policy and the distribution of wealth. Questions may be asked about the impact of transfer payments on economic competitiveness, the effect of greater equality on social goods (such as public health and safety) and the strengths and weaknesses of various models of wealth distribution (social democratic, nationalist, corporatist, free market).
Strategic information transmission is a theory of bargaining that attempts to explain the circumstances in which it's advisable to disclose information about one's position to a bargaining partner. Graduate seminars may discuss the application of this theory to issues of collective bargaining, market transactions, and political representation.