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Inferring welfare from inconsistent choices: how values matter

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  • Guilhem Lecouteux

    (UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur, GREDEG - Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie et Gestion - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur, COMUE UCA - COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019))

  • Ivan Mitrouchev

    (GAEL - Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquée de Grenoble - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes)

Abstract

There is no consensus on how to infer welfare from inconsistent choices. We argue that theorists must be explicit about the values they endorse to characterize individual welfare. After formalizing a set of values and their relationship with context-independent choices, we review the literature and discuss the advantages and drawbacks of each approach. We demonstrate that defining welfare a priori may violate normative individualism, arguably the most desirable value to maintain. To uphold this value while addressing individuals' errors, we propose a weaker version of consumer sovereignty, which we label ‘consumer autonomy'.

Suggested Citation

  • Guilhem Lecouteux & Ivan Mitrouchev, 2025. "Inferring welfare from inconsistent choices: how values matter," Post-Print hal-05167776, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05167776
    DOI: 10.1017/S0266267125000094
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05167776v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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