A concern about low relative income, and the alignment of utilitarianism with egalitarianism

A utilitarian social planner who maximizes social welfare assigns the available income to those who are most efficient in converting income into utility. However, when individuals are concerned about their income falling behind the incomes of others, the optimal income distribution under utilitarianism is equality of incomes.

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Year of publication:	2011
Authors:	Stark, Oded ; Kobus, Martyna ; Jakubek, Marcin
Publisher:	Bonn : University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF)
Subject:	Utilitarismus \| Einkommensverteilung \| Soziale Wohlfahrtsfunktion \| Konsuminterdependenz \| Theorie \| Utilitarianism \| Income equality \| Social welfare maximization \| Relative income

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Series:	ZEF Discussion Papers on Development Policy ; 156
Type of publication:	Book / Working Paper
Type of publication (narrower categories):	Working Paper
Language:	English
Other identifiers:	10.22004/ag.econ.117257 [DOI] 671194682 [GVK] hdl:10419/84803 [Handle] RePEc:ags:ubzefd:117257 [RePEc]
Classification:	H0 - Public Economics. General ; I0 - Health, Education, and Welfare. General ; I30 - Welfare and Poverty. General ; I31 - General Welfare; Basic Needs; Quality of Life
Source:	EconStor

Persistent link: https://ebvufind01.dmz1.zbw.eu/10010323665