Welfarism's Envy Problem Extends to Popular Judgments

Matthew Weinzierl ()

AEA Papers and Proceedings, 2018, vol. 108, 28-32

Abstract: Economists use a welfarist approach to policy evaluation, but doing so can lead to recommendations that violate seemingly wise non-welfarist principles. I explore one example: the proper tax policy response to envy. Using a novel survey, I find that a majority of US respondents are skeptical of envy-based redistribution, even if they are told that its direct effect is to increase welfare. This skepticism is consistent with a long history of judgments by economists, including leading welfarists. Such conflicts between direct welfarist analysis and prevailing normative principles challenge economists to consider modifying our dominant method of policy evaluation.

JEL-codes: D63 H23 H24 I30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
Note: DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20181001
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