This paper introduces and characterizes the number-sensitive critical-level generalized utilitarian family of population principles which is a generalization of the critical-level generalized-utilitarian family. Number-sensitive critical-level utilitarian principles rank alternatives by using a value function that is equal to total utility minus a sum of critical levels that may depend on population size but not on individual utilities, and number-sensitive critical-level generalized-utilitarian principles use transformed utilities and critical levels. Ethical properties of the principles are investigated and the new family is compared to number-dampened generalized utilitarianism whose value functions are equal to transformed representative utility (average utility in the utilitarian case) multiplied by a function of population size.
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Paper provided by Rice University, Department of Economics in its series Working Papers with number
2000-06.
Find related papers by JEL classification: D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
References listed on IDEAS Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
Blackorby, Charles & Bossert, Walter & Donaldson, David, 2002.
"Utilitarianism and the theory of justice,"
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Elsevier.
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Cited by: (explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)
BLACKORBY, Charles & BOSSERT, Walter & DONALDSON, David, 2006.
"Population Ethics,"
Cahiers de recherche
2006-15, Universite de Montreal, Departement de sciences economiques.
[Downloadable!]
Blackorby, Charles & Bossert, Walter & Donaldson, David, 2001.
"The Axiomatic Approach to Population Ethics,"
Discussion Paper
24, Center for Intergenerational Studies, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
[Downloadable!]