To be or not to be involved: a questionnaire-experimental view on Harsanyi's utilitarian ethics

Amiel, Yoram, Cowell, Frank and Gaertner, W (2006) To be or not to be involved: a questionnaire-experimental view on Harsanyi's utilitarian ethics. 85. Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.

Preview

PDF Download (258Kb) | Preview

Abstract

According to standard theory founded on Harsanyi (1953, 1955) a social welfare function can be appropriately based on the individual’s approach to choice under uncertainty. We investigate whether people really do rank distributions according to the same principles irrespective of whether the comparison involves money payoffs in a risky situation or the distribution of income among persons. We use a questionnaire experiment to focus on the two different interpretations of the Harsanyi approach. There are important, systematic differences that transcend the cultural background of respondents.

Item Type:	Monograph (Discussion Paper)
Official URL:	http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/
Additional Information:	© 2006 Yoram Amiel, Frank A. Cowell and Wulf Gaertner
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Impartial observer theorem, utilitarianism, welfare.
Library of Congress subject classification:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology H Social Sciences > HA Statistics
Journal of Economic Literature Classification System:	C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C1 - Econometric and Statistical Methods: General > C13 - Estimation D - Microeconomics > D6 - Welfare Economics > D63 - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
Sets:	Collections > Economists Online Departments > Economics Research centres and groups > Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines (STICERD) Research centres and groups > Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE)
Rights:	http://www.lse.ac.uk/library/rights/LSERO.htm
Identification Number:	85
URL:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/2687/

Actions (login required)

Record administration - authorised staff only