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Ethical Aspects of Intertemporal Discounting and the Social Discount Rate

Author

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  • Márta Somogyvári

    (University of Pécs)

Abstract

The paper examines the ethical aspects of discounting during the preparation of intertemporal decisions, and the influence of this on the cost-benefit analysis of community investments. It focuses on the economic philosophy and ethical considerations that underlie discounting as a daily financial activity. The author attempts to resolve the apparent logical contradiction between the cardinal and discounted utilitarian ethical approaches. By analysing the preconditions related to the definition of the values of the parameters included in the Ramsey formula, it is presented that neither the social discount rate applied in the case of intertemporal investments nor the current practice of establishing the market discount rate used for investments representing a potential burden on the environment is suitable for the assessment of the long-term community investments and private investments burdening the environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Márta Somogyvári, 2018. "Ethical Aspects of Intertemporal Discounting and the Social Discount Rate," Financial and Economic Review, Magyar Nemzeti Bank (Central Bank of Hungary), vol. 17(3), pages 109-132.
    • Handle: RePEc:mnb:finrev:v:17:y:2018:i:3:p:109-132
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    discounting; social discount rate; Ramsey formula; utilitarianism; economic ethics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • H43 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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