Generalized Utilitarianism and Harsanyi’s Partial Observer Theorem

Simon Grant, Atsushi Kajii, Ben Polak () and Zvi Safra
Additional contact information
Ben Polak: Cowles Foundation, Yale University, https://economics.yale.edu/people/faculty/benjamin-polak
Zvi Safra: Tel Aviv University and College of Management

No 1578, Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers from Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University

Abstract: We provide an axiomatization of generalized utilitarian social welfare functions in the context of Harsanyi's impartial observer theorem. To do this, we reformulate Harsanyi's problem such that lotteries over identity (accidents of birth) and lotteries over outcomes (life chances) are independent. We show how to accommodate (first) Diamond's critique concerning fairness and (second) Pattanaik's critique concerning differing attitudes toward risk. In each case, we show what separates them from Harsanyi by showing what extra axioms return us to Harsanyi. Thus we provide two new axiomatizations of Harsanyi's utilitarianism.

Keywords: Generalized utilitarianism; Impartial observer; Social welfare function; Fairness; Ex ante egalitarianism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 D71 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 59 pages
Date: 2006-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cdm and nep-hpe
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Generalized Utilitarianism and Harsanyi's Impartial Observer Theorem (2010)
Working Paper: Generalized Utilitarianism and Harsanyi's Partial Observer Theorem (2006)
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