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L’hypothèse d’utilité relative dans l’analyse économique : enjeux et conséquences

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  • Thi Kim Cuong Pham

Abstract

La fonction d'utilité de l’ homo oeconomicus est synonyme d'absence d'interactions sociales entre agents économiques et d'indépendance des préférences individuelles. Ce postulat d'utilité, dite absolue, est l'objet de nombreuses vérifications empiriques basées à la fois sur des données expérimentales et des données d'enquêtes réelles. Dans le cadre d'une revue de la littérature, cet article présentera, dans un premier temps, des justifications empiriques du postulat d'utilité relative. D'après celui-ci, l'individu aurait tendance à comparer son niveau de vie à une référence de sorte que son bien-être dépendrait en partie de sa position relative dans la société. Cette position relative serait alors assimilée à un statut social dont les enjeux et les conséquences font l'objet de nombreux travaux en analyse économique. Ainsi, dans un deuxième temps, seront présentés les effets de la quête d'un meilleur statut social sur la propriété normative de l'équilibre décentralisé, sur la fiscalité correctrice et la fiscalité redistributive optimale. Cet article met également l'accent sur le rôle de la préférence pour un statut comme un facteur d'explication de la croissance économique ainsi que d'autres phénomènes liés à cette variable tels que l'inégalité, l'évolution du bien-être, la stratification sociale, et la taxation permettant d'atteindre la croissance optimale.

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  • Thi Kim Cuong Pham, 2008. "L’hypothèse d’utilité relative dans l’analyse économique : enjeux et conséquences," Working Papers of BETA 2008-11, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    • Handle: RePEc:ulp:sbbeta:2008-11
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Corneo, Giacomo & Jeanne, Olivier, 2001. "On relative-wealth effects and long-run growth," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(4), pages 349-358, December.
    2. Easterlin, Richard A., 1995. "Will raising the incomes of all increase the happiness of all?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 35-47, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nguyen-Van, Phu & Pham, Thi Kim Cuong, 2013. "Endogenous fiscal policies, environmental quality, and status-seeking behavior," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 32-40.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bien-être; Croissance économique; Politique publique; Statut social; Utilité relative.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D6 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • O4 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity

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