Q-anonymous social welfare relations on infinite utility streams

This paper studies a class of social welfare relations (SWRs) on the set of infinite utility streams. In particular, we examine the SWRs satisfying Q-Anonymity, an impartiality axiom stronger than Finite Anonymity, as well as Strong Pareto and a certain equity axiom. First, we characterize the extension of the generalized Lorenz SWR by combining Q-Anonymity with Strong Pareto and Pigou-Dalton Equity. Second, we replace Pigou-Dalton Equity with Hammond Equity for characterizing the extended leximin SWR. Third, we give an alternative characterization of the extended utilitarian SWR by substituting Incremental Equity for Pigou-Dalton Equity.Q-Anonymity, Intergenerational equity, Generalized Lorenz criterion, Leximin principle, Utilitarianism, Simplified criterion

Q-anonymous social welfare relations on infinite utility streams

Revised version of No.41: Concluding remarks are slightly changed

Characterizing the Nash social welfare relation for infinite utility streams: a note

This note provides an axiomatic analysis of a social welfare ordering over infinite utility streams. We offer two characterizations of an infinite-horizon version of the Nash criterion.Infinite generations, intergenerational equity, the Nash criterion

The uniform distributions puzzle

Ordering infinite utility streams: maximal anonymity

Divergent mathematical treatments in utility theory

In this paper I study how divergent mathematical treatments affect mathematical modelling, with a special focus on utility theory. In particular I examine recent work on the ranking of information states and the discounting of future utilities, in order to show how, by replacing the standard analytical treatment of the models involved with one based on the framework of Nonstandard Analysis, diametrically opposite results are obtained. In both cases, the choice between the standard and nonstandard treatment amounts to a selection of set-theoretical parameters that cannot be made on purely empirical grounds. The analysis of this phenomenon gives rise to a simple logical account of the relativity of impossibility theorems in economic theory, which concludes the paper

Evaluations of inifinite utility streams: Pareto efficient and egalitarian axiomatics

[EN]This investigation focuses on the aggregation of infinite utility streams by social welfare functions. We analyze the possibility of combining Pareto-efficiency and Hammond Equity principles when the feasible utilities for each generation are [0, 1] and the natural numbers. In the latter case, the Hammond Equity ethics can be combined with non-trivial specifications of the Pareto postulate, even through anonymous social welfare functions. As a consequence, any evaluation of infinite utility streams that verifies a mild specification of the Paretian axiom must exert some interference on the affairs of particular generations

Ordering infinite utility streams: set-theoretical and topological issues

[EN]Invited talk at the Eighth Italian-Spanish Conference on General Topology and its Applications

Ordering infinite utility streams: Efficiency, continuity, and no impatience

[EN]We study two related versions of the no-impatience postulate in the context of transitive and reflexive relations on infinite utility streams which are not necessarily complete. Both are excluded by the traditional (weak) anonymity axiom. We show explicit social welfare relations satisfying Strong Pareto and the weaker version of no-impatience that are compatible with continuity in all the traditional topologies in this field. However the stronger version of no-impatience is violated by all lower semicontinuous (in the sup or Campbell topologies) social welfare relations satisfying the Weak Pareto axiom