Any Non-Individualistic Social Welfare Function Violates the Pareto Principle

8 Pages Posted: 18 Apr 2000 Last revised: 9 Oct 2022

See all articles by Louis Kaplow

Louis Kaplow

Harvard Law School; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Steven Shavell

Harvard Law School; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: March 1999

Abstract

The public at large, many policymakers, and some economists hold views of social welfare that attach some importance to factors other than individuals' utilities. This note shows that any such non-individualistic notion of social welfare conflicts with the Pareto principle.

Suggested Citation

Kaplow, Louis and Shavell, Steven, Any Non-Individualistic Social Welfare Function Violates the Pareto Principle (March 1999). NBER Working Paper No. w7051, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=211088

Louis Kaplow

Harvard Law School ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Steven Shavell (Contact Author)

Harvard Law School ( email )

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Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
617-495-3668 (Phone)
617-496-2256 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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