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Objective interpersonal comparisons of utility

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  • Kevin Roberts

    (London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom)

Abstract

This paper examines the problem of distilling conflicting interpersonal comparisons into a single set of interpersonal comparisons. The mapping that achieves this has a richer co-domain than all social choice problems (and a richer domain than most social choice problems). The set of mappings satisfying a mild set of restrictions is very small. If interpersonal comparisons embody ratio-scale comparability then the mapping is Cobb-Douglas in form; if interpersonal comparisons embody no more than level and difference comparability then the mapping must be dictatorial and it is impossible to combine different interpersonal comparisons.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin Roberts, 1996. "Objective interpersonal comparisons of utility," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 14(1), pages 79-96.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sochwe:v:14:y:1996:i:1:p:79-96
    Note: Received: 16 February 1995/Accepted: 13 October 1995
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