Statistical utilitarianism

Marcus Pivato

No 2014-18, Thema Working Papers from THEMA (Théorie Economique, Modélisation et Applications), CY Cergy-Paris University, ESSEC and CNRS

Abstract: Given a sufficiently large population satisfying certain statistical regularities, we show that it is often possible to accurately estimate the utilitarian social welfare function and identify the welfare-maximizing social alternative, even if we only have very noisy data about individual utility functions and interpersonal utility comparisons, and even if the individuals can be strategically dishonest.

Keywords: utilitarian; interpersonal comparisons; Groves-Clarke pivotal mecha- nism. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 D71 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ger, nep-mic and nep-upt
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Chapter: Statistical Utilitarianism (2016)
Working Paper: Statistical utilitarianism (2016)
Working Paper: Statistical utilitarianism (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ema:worpap:2014-18

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