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Sustainable Heterogeneity as the Unique Socially Optimal Allocation for Almost All Social Welfare Functions

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  • Harashima, Taiji

Abstract

The socially optimal allocation has been regarded to be unspecifiable because of utility’s interpersonal incomparability, Arrow’s general possibility theorem, and other factors. This paper examines this problem by focusing not on the social welfare function but instead on the utility possibility frontier in dynamic models with a heterogeneous population. A unique balanced growth path was found on which all of the optimality conditions of all heterogeneous households are equally and indefinitely satisfied (sustainable heterogeneity). With appropriate government interventions, such a path is always achievable and is uniquely socially optimal for almost all generally usable (i.e., preferences are complete, transitive, and continuous) social welfare functions. The only exceptions are some variants in Nietzsche type social welfare functions, but those types of welfare functions will rarely be adopted in democratic societies. This result indicates that it is no longer necessary to specify the shape of the social welfare function to determine the socially optimal growth path in a heterogeneous population.

Suggested Citation

  • Harashima, Taiji, 2012. "Sustainable Heterogeneity as the Unique Socially Optimal Allocation for Almost All Social Welfare Functions," MPRA Paper 40938, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:40938
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Romer, Paul M, 1986. "Increasing Returns and Long-run Growth," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 94(5), pages 1002-1037, October.
    2. Taiji Harashima, 2005. "Endogenous Growth Models in Open Economies: A Possibility of Permanent Current Account Deficits," International Trade 0502001, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 20 Apr 2005.
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    7. Harashima, Taiji, 2009. "Trade Liberalization and Heterogeneous Rates of Time Preference across Countries: A Possibility of Trade Deficits with China," MPRA Paper 19386, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Taiji Harashima, 2004. "A New Asymptotically Non-Scale Endogenous Growth Model," Development and Comp Systems 0412009, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 01 Mar 2005.
    9. Robert A. Becker, 1980. "On the Long-Run Steady State in a Simple Dynamic Model of Equilibrium with Heterogeneous Households," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 95(2), pages 375-382.
    10. Prescott, Edward C, 1998. "Needed: A Theory of Total Factor Productivity," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 39(3), pages 525-551, August.
    11. Harashima, Taiji, 2010. "Sustainable Heterogeneity: Inequality, Growth, and Social Welfare in a Heterogeneous Population," MPRA Paper 22521, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Lawrance, Emily C, 1991. "Poverty and the Rate of Time Preference: Evidence from Panel Data," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 99(1), pages 54-77, February.
    13. Harashima, Taiji, 2009. "A Theory of Total Factor Productivity and the Convergence Hypothesis: Workers’ Innovations as an Essential Element," MPRA Paper 15508, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Harashima, Taiji, 2020. "Rethinking the Ability-to-Pay and Equal Sacrifice Principles of Taxation: An Alternative Rationale for a Progressive Income Tax," MPRA Paper 102937, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Harashima, Taiji, 2018. "Bubbles and Bluffs: Risk Lovers Can Survive Economically," MPRA Paper 83615, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Harashima, Taiji, 2023. "Numerical Simulations of How Economic Inequality Increases in Democratic Countries," MPRA Paper 118710, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Harashima, Taiji, 2022. "Numerical Simulations of Reaching a Steady State: No Need to Generate Any Rational Expectations," MPRA Paper 115335, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Harashima, Taiji, 2019. "Preventing Widening Inequality: Economic Rents and Sustainable Heterogeneity," MPRA Paper 95727, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Harashima, Taiji, 2020. "An Alternative Rationale for the Necessity of an Inheritance Tax," MPRA Paper 100015, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Harashima, Taiji, 2018. "Do Households Actually Generate Rational Expectations? “Invisible Hand” for Steady State," MPRA Paper 88822, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Harashima, Taiji, 2014. "Time Preference Shocks," MPRA Paper 60205, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Harashima, Taiji, 2016. "The Cause of the Great Recession: What Caused the Downward Shift of the GDP Trend in the United States?," MPRA Paper 69215, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Harashima, Taiji, 2019. "A Theory of Inflation: The Law of Motion for Inflation under the MDC-based Procedure," MPRA Paper 113161, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Harashima, Taiji, 2014. "The Representative Household Assumption Requires sustainable Heterogeneity in Dynamic Models," MPRA Paper 57520, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Harashima, Taiji, 2020. "A Theory of the Credit-to-GDP Gap: Using Credit Gaps to Predict Financial Crises," MPRA Paper 111732, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Harashima, Taiji, 2021. "Consequence of Heterogeneous Economic Rents under the MDC-based Procedure," MPRA Paper 105765, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Harashima, Taiji, 2021. "Mechanisms that Make Economic Inequality Increase in Democratic Countries," MPRA Paper 108535, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Harashima, Taiji, 2023. "Numerical Simulation of Reaching a Steady State: Effects of Economic Rents on Development of Economic Inequality," MPRA Paper 117137, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Harashima, Taiji, 2023. "Secular Increase in Economic Inequality Accompanying a Constant Output/Capital Ratio," MPRA Paper 117705, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Harashima, Taiji, 2018. "An Acceleration Mechanism of Within-Country Inequality by Globalization," MPRA Paper 89807, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Harashima, Taiji, 2020. "Why Is Risk Aversion Essentially Important for Endogenous Economic Growth?," MPRA Paper 101011, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Taiji HARASHIMA, 2014. "Sustainable Heterogeneity In Exogenous Growth Models. The Socially Optimal Distribution By Government’S Intervention," Theoretical and Practical Research in the Economic Fields, ASERS Publishing, vol. 5(1), pages 73-100.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sustainability; Heterogeneity; Social Optimality; Social welfare; Social welfare function; Inequality; Evolution;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F40 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - General
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • E20 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)

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