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Animal welfare: antispeciesism, veganism and a “life worth living”

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  • Romain Espinosa

    (CREM, CNRS, University of Rennes 1
    Rennes School of Business)

  • Nicolas Treich

    (TSE, INRAE, University Toulouse Capitole)

Abstract

While antispeciesism is an ethical notion, veganism is behavioral. In this paper, we examine the links between the two. Building on Blackorby and Donaldson (Econ J 102:1345–1369, 1992), we consider a two-species model in which humans consume animals. The level of antispeciesism is conceived as the weight on animals’ welfare in the utilitarian social welfare function. We show that more antispeciesism increases meat consumption if and only if animals’ utility is positive. That is, the critical condition is whether farm animals’ lives are worth living. We then empirically explore this condition using a survey. We find that farm-animal experts and frequent meat eaters are more likely to believe that the lives of farm animals are worth living. We finally discuss some issues in the study of animal welfare in economics and social choice.

Suggested Citation

  • Romain Espinosa & Nicolas Treich, 2021. "Animal welfare: antispeciesism, veganism and a “life worth living”," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 56(3), pages 531-548, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sochwe:v:56:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s00355-020-01287-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s00355-020-01287-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hestermann, Nina & Le Yaouanq, Yves & Treich, Nicolas, 2020. "An economic model of the meat paradox," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    2. Matthew Clarke & Yew-Kwang Ng, 2006. "Population Dynamics and Animal Welfare: Issues Raised by the Culling of Kangaroos in Puckapunyal," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 27(2), pages 407-422, October.
    3. Thomas Eichner & Rüdiger Pethig, 2006. "Efficient nonanthropocentric nature protection," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 26(1), pages 47-74, January.
    4. Blackorby, Charles & Donaldson, David, 1992. "Pigs and Guinea Pigs: A Note on the Ethics of Animal Exploitation," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 102(415), pages 1345-1369, November.
    5. Johansson-Stenman, Olof, 2018. "Animal Welfare and Social Decisions: Is It Time to Take Bentham Seriously?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 90-103.
    6. Jayson Lusk, 2011. "The market for animal welfare," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 28(4), pages 561-575, December.
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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. Marc Fleurbaey & Christy Leppanen, 2021. "Toward a theory of ecosystem well-being," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 257-295, October.
    3. Espinosa, Romain & Treich, Nicolas, 2024. "Animal welfare as a public good," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    4. Romain Espinosa & Nicolas Treich, 2024. "Beyond anthropocentrism in agricultural and resource economics," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 68(3), pages 541-566, July.
    5. Bry-Chevalier, Tom, 2024. "Comparing the potential of meat alternatives for a more sustainable food system," OSF Preprints ze5yt, Center for Open Science.

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