Rationalizable variable-population choice functions

Charles Blackorby, Walter Bossert and David Donaldson

Economic Theory, 2002, vol. 19, issue 2, 355-378

Abstract: We analyze the rationalizability of variable-population social-choice functions in a welfarist framework. It is shown that fixed-population rationalizability and a weakening of congruence together are necessary and sufficient for rational choice, given a plausible dominance property that prevents the choice of alternatives involving low utility levels. In addition, a class of critical-level separable choice functions is characterized. This result, which extends an earlier axiomatization of a related class of bargaining solutions to a variable-population setting, is the first axiomatization of critical-level principles in a general choice-theoretic model.

Keywords: Population ethics; Rational choice; Bargaining. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C78 D63 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001-10-29
Note: Received: November 30, 1999; revised version: September 11, 2000
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