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Revealed preferences with plural motives: axiomatic foundations of normative assessments in non-utilitarian welfare economics

Author

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  • Sebastian Silva-Leander

    (University of Oxford
    Oxford Policy Management)

  • Suman Seth

    (University of Oxford
    University of Leeds)

Abstract

This paper explores the possibility of defining a non-utilitarian normative standard for assessments of welfare and deprivation. The paper formalises a key aspect of Amartya Sen’s critique of the assumption of consistent utility-maximisation in the revealed preference theory and proposes a generalisation of the standard Samuelsonian choice model for the case in which choices are based on plural motives (here, self-interested and moral motives). Based on a set of intuitive assumptions about the way in which unobservable motives are linked to observable choices, we then construct an alternative normative ranking rule that can be used in non-utilitarian welfare economics to rank social outcomes or provide a normative basis for the construction of composite indices, for instance.

Suggested Citation

  • Sebastian Silva-Leander & Suman Seth, 2017. "Revealed preferences with plural motives: axiomatic foundations of normative assessments in non-utilitarian welfare economics," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 48(3), pages 505-517, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sochwe:v:48:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s00355-016-1020-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s00355-016-1020-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Alcantud, José Carlos R. & Cantone, Domenico & Giarlotta, Alfio & Watson, Stephen, 2023. "Rationalization of indecisive choice behavior by pluralist ballots," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).

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