Equally-distributed equivalent utility, ex post egalitarianism and utilitarianism

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Grant, Simon; Kajii, Atsushi; Polak, Ben; Safra, Zvi
• 署名单位: University of Queensland; Rice University; Kyoto University; Yale University; Yale University; University of Exeter; Tel Aviv University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC THEORY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-0531
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2011.04.001
• 发表日期: 2012
• 页码: 1545-1571
• 关键词: Utilitarianism; Harsanyi's (impartial) observer; social welfare function; Ex post egalitarianism

摘要

We provide an axiomatization of expected equally-distributed equivalent-utility social welfare functions in the context of Harsanyi's 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. (c) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.