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Animal welfare as a public good

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  • Espinosa, Romain
  • Treich, Nicolas

Abstract

We study a simple model of consumption of animals in which consumers exhibit altruism towards animals. Consumers can choose both the quantity and the quality of animal lives. This model gives rise to a public good problem: at the market equilibrium, quality is too low, and quantity is too high when animal lives are not worth living. We discuss some implications of our results and the significance of our modeling choices for the future landscape of economic research on animal welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Espinosa, Romain & Treich, Nicolas, 2024. "Animal welfare as a public good," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:216:y:2024:i:c:s0921800923002884
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2023.108025
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Franziska Funke & Linus Mattauch & Inge van den Bijgaart & H. Charles J. Godfray & Cameron Hepburn & David Klenert & Marco Springmann & Nicolas Treich, 2022. "Toward Optimal Meat Pricing: Is It Time to Tax Meat Consumption?," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 16(2), pages 219-240.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Animal welfare; Public good; Altruism; Meat; Life worth living;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods

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