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Beyond Bentham -- Measuring Procedural Utility

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Author Info
Bruno Frey ()
Alois Stutzer

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Abstract

We propose that outcome utility and process utility can be distinguished and empirically measured. People gain procedural utility from participating in the political decision-making process itself, irrespective of the outcome. Nationals enjoy both outcome and process utility, while foreigners are excluded from political decision-making and therefore cannot enjoy the corresponding procedural utility. Utility is measured by individuals' reported subjective well-being or happiness. We find that participation rights provide more procedural utility in terms of a feeling of self-determination and influence than actual participation.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by CESifo Group Munich in its series CESifo Working Paper Series with number CESifo Working Paper No. 492.

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Date of creation: 2001
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Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_492

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Related research
Keywords: Procedural utility; subjective well-being; political participation; participation rights;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General
D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Models of Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
H73 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Interjurisdictional Differentials and Their Effects
I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare and Poverty - - - General Welfare

References listed on IDEAS
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    Other versions:
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    Other versions:
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    Other versions:
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    Other versions:
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    Other versions:
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    Other versions:
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This page was last updated on 2009-12-1.

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