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The measurement of preferences over the distribution of benefits: the importance of the reference point

Dolan, Paul and Robinson, Angela (2001) The measurement of preferences over the distribution of benefits: the importance of the reference point. European Economic Review, 45 (9). pp. 1697-1709. ISSN 0014-2921

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Identification Number: 10.1016/S0014-2921(00)00052-0

Abstract

This paper uses the Atkinson method, which was initially developed to measure the shape of the social welfare function (SWF) in the domain of income, to measure the shape of the SWF with respect to the distribution of health benefits. Two separate studies were conducted involving a total of 71 respondents. A comparison of the results across the two studies suggests that reference point effects play an important role in determining responses. Thus, more research is needed on the role that reference point effects ought to and do play in determining the nature and extent of the efficiency – equity trade-off before the results of studies of this kind can be interpreted as ‘equity parameters’ which may simply be ‘plugged into’ an appropriately specified SWF.

Item Type: Article
Official URL: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescriptio...
Additional Information: © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.
Divisions: Social Policy
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Date Deposited: 02 Mar 2011 15:01
Last Modified: 03 Jan 2024 17:48
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/33020

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