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Speciesism, altruism and the economics of animal welfare

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  • Jayson L. Lusk
  • F. Bailey Norwood

Abstract

Economists have long relied on utilitarian principles in carrying out cost–benefit analysis, but such utilitarianism is typically limited to the well-being of humans. Some prominent philosophers have argued such an approach is unjustifiably speciesist, but what are the consequences of including animal well-being in cost–benefit analysis? This paper considers this question in the context of human altruism towards animals in which people's concerns for the well-being of animals create an externality. After uncovering some conceptual challenges involved in carrying out cost–benefit analysis on animal welfare policies, we report the results of a novel experiment used to measure the public-good value of farm animal welfare, and show that although the average value in our sample is quite large, the result is due to the preferences of only a small subset of the subjects. , Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Jayson L. Lusk & F. Bailey Norwood, 2012. "Speciesism, altruism and the economics of animal welfare," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 39(2), pages 189-212, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:erevae:v:39:y:2012:i:2:p:189-212
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/erae/jbr015
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    Cited by:

    1. Dusel, Sara & Wieck, Christine, 2024. "Animal Welfare In Non-Anthropocentric Cost-Benefit Analysis And Social Welfare Functions: A Critical Review To Guide Practical Application," Working Papers 347466, Universitaet Hohenheim, Institute of Agricultural Policy and Agricultural Markets.
    2. Heise, Heinke & Gieseke, Daniel, 2018. "Gesagt, Getan? Zusammenhang Zwischen Einstellung Und Persönlichen Merkmalen Der Landwirte Und Dem Tierwohl-Niveau Auf Milchviehbetrieben," 58th Annual Conference, Kiel, Germany, September 12-14, 2018 275897, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    3. Romain Espinosa & Nicolas Treich, 2021. "Moderate Versus Radical NGOs†," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 103(4), pages 1478-1501, August.
    4. Heise, Heinke & Theuvsen, Ludwig, 2016. "What do consumers think about farm animal welfare in modern agriculture? Attitudes and shopping behaviour," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 20(3), November.
    5. Espinosa, Romain & Treich, Nicolas, 2024. "Animal welfare as a public good," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    6. repec:ags:aaea22:335872 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Enoch Owusu-Sekyere & Helena Hansson & Evgenij Telezhenko, 2022. "Use and non-use values to explain farmers’ motivation for the provision of animal welfare," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 49(2), pages 499-525.
    8. Espinosa, Romain & Treich, Nicolas, 2020. "Moderate vs. Radical NGOs," TSE Working Papers 20-1159, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    9. Moisescu Ovidiu-Ioan, 2015. "Demographics-based differences in the relationship between perceived CSR and customer loyalty in the dairy products market," Management & Marketing, Sciendo, vol. 10(2), pages 118-131, September.

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