scholarly journals Toward a theory of ecosystem well-being

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Fleurbaey ◽  
Christy Leppanen
Keyword(s):  
Social Welfare ◽  
Welfare Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Individual Preferences ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Multiple Species

AbstractCan the main methods of social welfare analysis be extended to cover multiple species? Following a non-anthropocentric approach, we examine the pros and cons of various objective and subjective methods of well-being comparisons across species. We argue against normalizing by specific capacities but in favor of taking account of individual preferences and specializations. While many conceptual and practical difficulties remain, it appears possible to develop methods for the assessment of collective well-being of multi-species communities and ecosystems.

Which SWF Should We Choose?

2019 ◽  
pp. 115-160
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Adler
Keyword(s):  
Social Welfare ◽  
Social Welfare Function ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ethical Debate ◽  
Ex Ante ◽  
Pros And Cons

The choice of social welfare function (SWF) is an ethical matter. This chapter considers the ethical arguments for and against specific SWFs. It builds upon chapter 3, which presented the leading SWFs and divided the landscape of SWFs into various regions (depending upon their axiomatic properties). First, the chapter discusses the ethical pros and cons of the utilitarian SWF, as compared to continuous-prioritarian SWFs. Next, it engages the ethical debate between continuous-prioritarian SWFs and other non-utilitarian SWFs. The utilitarian SWF has a key advantage under uncertainty, as compared to continuous-prioritarian SWFs: it has an uncertainty procedure that respects both the ex ante Pareto principles and a very plausible axiom of Dominance. Conversely, the utilitarian SWF is insensitive to the distribution of well-being (it violates Pigou-Dalton). Non-utilitarian SWFs do not perform better under uncertainty, as compared to continuous-prioritarian SWFs; but there may be other ethical grounds for preferring these.

Measuring Well-Being

2019 ◽  
pp. 41-82
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Adler
Keyword(s):  
Social Welfare ◽  
Social Welfare Function ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Utility Functions ◽  
Equivalent Income ◽  
Von Neumann ◽  
Individual Preferences ◽  
Good Account ◽  
The Social ◽  
Income Measure

This chapter discusses the well-being measure: a key component of the social welfare function (SWF) framework. This measure, w(·), assigns well-being numbers to individuals in outcomes so as to reflect admissible well-being comparisons (of well-being levels and/or well-being differences). In order for the SWF framework to function, these admissible comparisons must include interpersonal as well as intrapersonal comparisons; the chapter explains why. It then shows how von Neumann/Morgenstern (vNM) utility functions can be used to construct an interpersonally comparable well-being measure that respects individual preferences. A different preference-based well-being measure, the equivalent-income measure, is also reviewed. Although the preference view of well-being is dominant in the SWF literature, w(·) may instead be based upon a non-preference view of well-being, such as an hedonic or objective-good account. The chapter concludes by considering why some economists have been skeptical about interpersonal comparisons.

Social Welfare Functions

2019 ◽  
pp. 123-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Adler
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Probability Distribution ◽  
Social Welfare ◽  
Social Welfare Function ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Individual Preferences ◽  
The Social

The social welfare function (SWF) framework is a core methodology of welfare economics. This chapter describes the approach, discusses its application to health priority-setting, and illustrates this application with a concrete example. The SWF framework conceptualizes any given policy as a probability distribution over outcomes, with each outcome in turn a pattern of well-being among the population of concern. The well-being measure can be derived from utility functions representing individual preferences with respect to the attributes that determine well-being (e.g., health, longevity, income). Different rules for ranking well-being patterns are possible, including both “utilitarian” and “prioritarian” rules. Unlike cost-effectiveness analysis, the SWF framework is sensitive to the way in which a given individual’s income, health, and longevity interact to determine her lifetime well-being. Unlike cost-benefit analysis, the utilitarian and prioritarian SWFs take account of the declining marginal utility of income. Health scholars’ traditional concerns about considering income in allocating health care are mitigated by this feature of both SWFs and, even more so, by the extra concern for the well-being of the worse off that is characteristic of prioritarianism.

Beyond GDP: The Quest for a Measure of Social Welfare. Part I

2012 ◽  
pp. 67-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Fleurbaey
Keyword(s):  
Economic Theory ◽  
Social Welfare ◽  
Well Being ◽  
National Product ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Modern Economic ◽  
Aggregate Wealth ◽  
Net National Product ◽  
Sustainability Policy ◽  
Beyond Gdp

The first part of the paper is devoted to the monetary indicators of social welfare. It is shown which methods of quantitative estimating the aggregate wealth and well-being are available in the modern economic theory apart from the traditional GDP measure. The limitations of the methods are also discussed. The author shows which measures of welfare are adequate in the dynamic context: he considers the problems of intertemporal welfare analysis using the Net National Product (NNP) for the sustainability policy and in the context of concern for well-being of the future generations.

Beyond GDP: The Quest for a Measure of Social Welfare. Part II

2012 ◽  
pp. 32-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Fleurbaey
Keyword(s):  
Social Welfare ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Welfare Economics ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
Beyond Gdp

The second part of the paper is devoted to the non-monetary indicators of social welfare. Various approaches to the study of subjective well-being and happiness are described. The author shows what problems a researcher would encounter trying to analyze welfare on the micro-level and to take account of the cognitive and affective aspects of the individuals assessment of their well-being, as well as the relevance of social relations. The author also shows to what extent the alternative approaches, particularly the analysis of functionings and capabilities advanced by A. Sen are compatible to the modern welfare economics and what prospects the latter has.

Living on a low income as a systemic impediment to socio-economic development of Ukraine

2020 ◽  
pp. 99-109
Author(s):  
NATALIIA TOLSTYKH
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Social Welfare ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Human Potential ◽  
Subsistence Level ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
The Government

The article sheds light on various approaches that seek to determine how widespread poverty and life on a low income are in Ukraine nowadays. As a social phenomenon, poverty has traditionally been associated with destitution and living below the subsistence level set by the government. However, the author holds the view that life on a low income not only means living near or below the poverty line. There is another part of Ukraine’s population that should also be considered needy — those whose income is less than twice as the subsistence level, and most of them are also subject to socio-economic deprivation. Drawing upon the findings of a social survey conducted by the Institute of Sociology of the NAS of Ukraine in 2019, the paper analyses the standard of living among different income groups. Particular attention is given to consumption patterns and social well-being of respondents in the lower income brackets. From the data, it can be inferred that living conditions of many Ukrainians are inadequate to sustain and develop human potential; furthermore, the low-income households have literally to struggle every day to make ends meet. The author brings into focus the main macroeconomic factors contributing to this situation and its adverse effect on the nation’s social potential. Some of the most common social consequences of living on a low income have been identified, such as limited consumption, a person’s dissatisfaction with life and his/her position in society. The above-mentioned survey also provides the estimates of how much the current subsistence level (with regard to Ukraine) should be. Having been made by different socio-demographic and occupational groups of Ukraine’s population, these estimates are a useful source of information — given that subsistence level is considered the basic social standard. According to the survey, all these figures are at variance with the official subsistence level, which is noticeably lower, and this indicates that the current subsistence level needs an upward revision. Today, the overall socio-economic situation in Ukraine is unfavourable for neoliberal economic reforms initiated by the government. Since these policies are primarily designed to reduce the role of state in managing the economy and implementing social welfare programmes, following this path will inevitably result in the entrenchment of mass poverty and in a major loss of Ukraine’s human potential, as well as labour force. The author argues that tackling the country’s chronic low income problem is only possible if a new strategy for socio-economic development is adopted, where social welfare is prioritised.

scholarly journals Towards an enhanced indication of provisioning ecosystem services in agro-ecosystems

2021 ◽  
Vol 193 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Bethwell ◽  
Benjamin Burkhard ◽  
Katrin Daedlow ◽  
Claudia Sattler ◽  
Moritz Reckling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Strong Dependence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Conceptual Base ◽  
Provisioning Ecosystem Services ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Anthropogenic Contributions

AbstractProvisioning ecosystem services play a vital role in sustaining human well-being. Agro-ecosystems contribute a significant share of these services, besides food and fodder and also fuel and fibre as well as regulating and cultural ecosystem services. Until now, the indication of provisioning ecosystem services of agro-ecosystems has been based almost only on yield numbers of agricultural products. Such an indication is problematic due to several reasons which include a disregard of the role of significant anthropogenic contributions to ecosystem service co-generation, external environmental effects and strong dependence on site conditions. We argue for an enhanced indication of provisioning ecosystem services that considers multiple aspects of their delivery. The conceptual base for such an indication has been made by prior publications which have been reviewed. Relevant points were taken up in this article and condensed into a conceptual model in order to develop a more holistic and expanded set of indictors, which was then exemplarily applied and tested in three case studies in Germany. The case studies represent different natural conditions, and the indicator set application showed that ecosystem services (ES) flow—in terms of output alone—does not characterise agro-ecosystems sufficiently. The proposed aspects of provisioning ecosystem services can give a fuller picture, for example, by input-output relationships, as it is possible by just using single indicators. Uncertainties as well as pros and cons of such an approach are elaborated. Finally, recommendations for an enhanced indication of provisioning ecosystem services in agro-ecosystems that can help to integrate agricultural principles with ideas of sustainability and site-specific land use are derived.

scholarly journals Externalities and Regulation in Card Payment Systems

2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Charles Rochet ◽  
Jean Tirole
Keyword(s):  
Social Welfare ◽  
Consumer Surplus ◽  
Welfare Analysis ◽  
Payment Systems ◽  
Interchange Fees ◽  
Regulatory Approach ◽  
Innovative Thinking ◽  
Card Payment ◽  
Economic Thinking

The paper offers a roadmap to the current economic thinking concerning interchange fees. After describing the fundamental externalities inherent in payment systems and analysing merchant resistance to interchange fee increases and the associations' determination of this fee, it derives the externalities' implications for welfare analysis. It then discusses whether consumer surplus or social welfare is the proper benchmark for regulatory purposes. Finally, it offers a critique of the current regulatory approach, and concludes with a call for more novel and innovative thinking about how to reconcile regulators' concerns and the industry legitimate desire to perform its balancing act.

scholarly journals One Health, emerging infectious diseases and wildlife: two decades of progress?

2017 ◽  
Vol 372 (1725) ◽  
pp. 20160167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew A. Cunningham ◽  
Peter Daszak ◽  
James L. N. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
One Health ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Underlying Causes ◽  
Wide Scale ◽  
Multiple Species

Infectious diseases affect people, domestic animals and wildlife alike, with many pathogens being able to infect multiple species. Fifty years ago, following the wide-scale manufacture and use of antibiotics and vaccines, it seemed that the battle against infections was being won for the human population. Since then, however, and in addition to increasing antimicrobial resistance among bacterial pathogens, there has been an increase in the emergence of, mostly viral, zoonotic diseases from wildlife, sometimes causing fatal outbreaks of epidemic proportions. Concurrently, infectious disease has been identified as an increasing threat to wildlife conservation. A synthesis published in 2000 showed common anthropogenic drivers of disease threats to biodiversity and human health, including encroachment and destruction of wildlife habitat and the human-assisted spread of pathogens. Almost two decades later, the situation has not changed and, despite improved knowledge of the underlying causes, little has been done at the policy level to address these threats. For the sake of public health and wellbeing, human-kind needs to work better to conserve nature and preserve the ecosystem services, including disease regulation, that biodiversity provides while also understanding and mitigating activities which lead to disease emergence. We consider that holistic, One Health approaches to the management and mitigation of the risks of emerging infectious diseases have the greatest chance of success. This article is part of the themed issue ‘One Health for a changing world: zoonoses, ecosystems and human well-being’.

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