Equally-distributed equivalent utility, ex post egalitarianism and utilitarianism

Simon Grant, Atsushi Kajii, Ben Polak and Zvi Safra

Journal of Economic Theory, 2012, vol. 147, issue 4, 1545-1571

Abstract: We provide an axiomatization of expected equally-distributed equivalent-utility social welfare functions in the context of Harsanyiʼs 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; Harsanyiʼs (impartial) observer; Social welfare function; Ex post egalitarianism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 D71 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:147:y:2012:i:4:p:1545-1571

DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2011.04.001

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