所得重分配.ppt

* * * * Review General Concept of Social Welfare Function Utilitarianism simply means W a function of people’s utility Conventional Welfare Economics posits W = F(U1, U2, …, Un), but this so general it doesn’t tell us much Utilitarians believed in additive welfare function, although W = F( ) is called a utilitarian welfare function * Take ab from Peter and give to Paul 將ab從Peter移轉給Paul * Only important consideration is the utility of the least well-off member. Society’s objective is to maximize the utility of the person with the least utility. This implies there should be complete equality except to the extent that departures from equality increase the welfare of the worst-off person. No inequality acceptable unless it works to the advantage of everyone. Original position – “behind the veil of ignorance” – people will adopt maximin because of the insurance it gives against disastrous outcomes Criticisms Should decision made in original position have any special claim to ethical validity Are people really that risk adverse? It can lead to some weird outcome. “A new opportunity arises to raise the welfare of the least disadvantaged by a slight amount, but almost everyone else must be made substantially worse off, except for a few individuals who would become extremely wealthy.” Because all that is relevant is the welfare of the worst-off person, the maximin criterion indicates that society should take advantage of the opportunity * Assumption that utility depends on your income only implies that al redistribution must hurt at least one person so redistribution can never be a Pareto improvement. If we assume that utilities depend not only on their own income, but those of others, then redistribution can be a Pareto improvement. * Some argue specification of income distribution should be derived from a set of principles that are independent of people’s tastes. Nonutilitarian approach Commodity Egalitarianism – James Tobin – certain types of commodities are so i