Equally-distributed equivalent utility, ex post egalitarianism and utilitarianism

Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

7-2012

Abstract

We provide an axiomatization of expected equally-distributed equivalent-utility social welfare functions in the context of Harsanyi's impartial observer theorem. For this family of social welfare functions, we show what additional axiom is necessary and sufficient for the observer to exhibit aversion to ex post inequality. We also relate this axiomatization to our axiomatization in a companion paper of generalized utilitarian social welfare functions. Given certain richness assumptions, the only social welfare functions that belong to both families are the utilitarian.

Keywords

Utilitarianism, Harsanyi's (impartial) observer, Social welfare function, Ex post egalitarianism

Discipline

Economic Theory

Research Areas

Economic Theory

Publication

Journal of Economic Theory

Volume

147

Issue

4

First Page

1545

Last Page

1571

ISSN

0022-0531

Identifier

10.1016/j.jet.2011.04.001

Publisher

Elsevier

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jet.2011.04.001

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