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Exploring infinite population utilitarianism under strong anonymity

Author

Listed:
  • Geir B Asheim

    (Department of Economics [Oslo] - Faculty of Social Sciences [Oslo] - UiO - University of Oslo)

  • Kohei Kamaga

    (Sophia University [Tokyo])

  • Stéphane Zuber

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

We examine utilitarian criteria for evaluating profiles of well-being among infinitely many individuals. Motivated by the non-existence of a natural 1-to-1 correspondence between people when alternatives have different population structures, with a different number of people in each generation, we impose equal treatment in the form of Strong Anonymity. We demonstrate how a novel criterion, Strongly Anonymous Utilitarianism, can be applied in the Ramsey model, leading to an efficient and sustainable stream. We show how the criterion is the result of combining Strong Anonymity with other regularity axioms (Monotonicity, Finite Completeness, and continuity axioms) as well as axioms of equity, population ethics, sensitivity, and separability. We relate it to other strongly anonymous utilitarian criteria.

Suggested Citation

  • Geir B Asheim & Kohei Kamaga & Stéphane Zuber, 2024. "Exploring infinite population utilitarianism under strong anonymity," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) halshs-04828788, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:pseptp:halshs-04828788
    DOI: 10.1007/s00199-024-01620-6
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-04828788v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alcantud, José Carlos R., 2012. "Inequality averse criteria for evaluating infinite utility streams: The impossibility of Weak Pareto," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 147(1), pages 353-363.
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    Keywords

    Utilitarianism; Intergenerational equity; Population ethics;
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