A simple proof of Suzumura's extension theorem for finite domains with applications

Abstract

In this paper we provide a simple proof of the extension theorem for partial orderings due to Suzumura [1983] when the domain of the partial order is finite. The extension theorem due to Szpilrajn [1930] follows from this theorem. Szpilrajns extension theorem is used to show that an asymmetric binary relation is contained in the asymmetric part of a linear order if and only if it is acyclic. This theorem is then applied to prove three results. Finally we introduce the concept of a threshold choice function, and our third result says that such choice functions are the only ones to satisfy a property called functional acyclicity.