Greatest Happiness Principle in a Complex System: Maximisation versus Driving Force

Katalin Martinás () and Zsolt Gilányi ()
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Katalin Martinás: Department of Atomic Physics, Eötvös Loránd University

Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems - scientific journal, 2012, vol. 10, issue 2, 103-113

Abstract: From philosophical point of view, micro-founded economic theories depart from the principle of the pursuit of the greatest happiness. From mathematical point of view, micro-founded economic theories depart from the utility maximisation program. Though economists are aware of the serious limitations of the equilibrium analysis, they remain in that framework. We show that the maximisation principle, which implies the equilibrium hypothesis, is responsible for this impasse. We formalise the pursuit of the greatest happiness principle by the help of the driving force postulate: the volumes of activities depend on the expected wealth increase. In that case we can get rid of the equilibrium hypothesis and have new insights into economic theory. For example, in what extent standard economic results depend on the equilibrium hypothesis?

Keywords: driving force; equilibrium hypothesis; utility maximisation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C61 D01 D50 I19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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