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Interpersonal comparisons of well-being: Increasing convergence

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  • Jelle de Boer

Abstract

The main question of this paper is how people may agree in their interpersonal comparisons of wellbeing. These comparisons are important in social ethics and for policy purposes. The paper firstly examines grounds for convergence in easy cases. Then comes a more difficult case of low convergence in order to explore a way to increase it. For this, concepts from the empirical subjective well-being literature are used: life satisfaction and vignettes. Ideas of John Harsanyi and Serge Kolm thereby receive a new look.

Suggested Citation

  • Jelle de Boer, 2024. "Interpersonal comparisons of well-being: Increasing convergence," Politics, Philosophy & Economics, , vol. 23(4), pages 321-345, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:pophec:v:23:y:2024:i:4:p:321-345
    DOI: 10.1177/1470594X241232339
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    References listed on IDEAS

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