The illusion of intergenerational preference aggregation: Limits of individualistic population ethics

Arbeitspapier

In this paper we analyse the possibility to construct intergenerational criteria of choice within the framework of methodological individualism. The main result of this analysis is, that intergenerational criteria as an aggregation of preferences of current and future individuals do not exist. The extension of social choice theory to intergenerational problems necessarily leads to criteria that are intragenerational in nature. This fact is due to the epistemological difference between actual and potential individuals. The consequences for the structure of welfare functional in presence of intergenerational choice are analysed.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Diskussionsbeiträge - Serie II ; No. 297

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft
• Subject: Soziale Wohlfahrtsfunktion ; Generationengerechtigkeit ; Methodologischer Individualismus ; Theorie

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Kolmar, Martin ; Stolte, Klaus
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Universität Konstanz, Sonderforschungsbereich 178 - Internationalisierung der Wirtschaft
• (where): Konstanz
• (when): 1996

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/101474
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET