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Fixed-Point Utilitarianism

Author

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  • Eden, Maya

Abstract

How should policymakers make decisions that affect the population trajectory? I study the implications of the person-affecting approach to population ethics, according to which we ought to be “in favor of making people happy but neutral about making happy people†(Narveson [1973]). I formalize this approach as a decision rule that is based on the premise that, whenever possible, we ought to select an option that is optimal for the people that it brings into existence. Under plausible conditions, this approach characterizes a solution to a fixed-point problem, in which the optimal policy maximizes a population-weighted sum of per-capita utilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Eden, Maya, 2026. "Fixed-Point Utilitarianism," CEPR Discussion Papers 21826, Centre for Economic Policy Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:21826
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    File URL: https://cepr.org/publications/DP21826
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E61 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Policy Objectives; Policy Designs and Consistency; Policy Coordination
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General

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