Strengthening Democracy with Math: MIT’s Bailey Flanigan Develops Algorithms for Social Choice
Assistant Professor Bailey Flanigan has joined MIT with a clear mission: using computational methods to help democratic institutions thrive. Specializing in “computational social choice,” Flanigan develops rigorous mathematical frameworks to tackle the complexities of collective decision-making. Her work bridges the gap between theoretical computer science and practical governance, aiming to make systems like participatory budgeting and citizens’ assemblies more effective and equitable.
Flanigan’s research philosophy involves following deep technical questions wherever they lead, often resulting in innovative tools that can handle the messy reality of human preferences. By formalizing how we aggregate individual opinions into collective actions, she is providing the structural support needed for modern democracies to function in an increasingly polarized and complex world.