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Interpersonal Comparisons by Means of Money Metric Utilities: Why One Should Use the Same Reference Prices for All

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  • Bart Capéau
  • André Decoster
  • Liebrecht De Sadeleer

Abstract

We show that using different reference prices for different individuals in money metrics of well–being leads to violations of several normative properties of interpersonal welfare comparisons that have become popular in the fairness literature. An empirical illustration for Belgian single adults available for the labour market in 2015 shows that the violation of these principles in the labour consumption context, is all but exceptional
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  • Bart Capéau & André Decoster & Liebrecht De Sadeleer, 2024. "Interpersonal Comparisons by Means of Money Metric Utilities: Why One Should Use the Same Reference Prices for All," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/368537, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    • Handle: RePEc:ulb:ulbeco:2013/368537
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fleurbaey,Marc & Maniquet,François, 2011. "A Theory of Fairness and Social Welfare," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521715348, Enero-Abr.
    2. Fleurbaey, Marc, 2012. "Fairness, Responsibility, and Welfare," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199653591.
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