Welfare Theory, Public Action, and Ethical Values: Revisiting the History of Welfare Economics

Roger Backhouse (Editor), Antoinette Baujard (Editor), Tamotsu Nishizawa (Editor)

Research output: Book/ReportBook

Abstract

This innovative history of welfare economics challenges the view that welfare economics can be discussed without taking ethical values into account. Whatever their theoretical commitments, when economists have considered practical problems relating to public policy, they have adopted a wider range of ethical values, whether equality, justice, freedom, or democracy. Even canonical authors in the history of welfare economics are shown to have adopted ethical positions different from those with which they are commonly associated. The book explores the reasons for and implications of this, drawing on concepts of welfarism and non-welfarism developed in modern welfare economics. The authors exemplify how economic theory, public affairs, and political philosophy interact, challenging the status quo in order to push economists and historians to reconsider the nature and meaning of welfare economics.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationCambridge
PublisherCambridge University Press
Number of pages347
ISBN (Electronic)9781108882507, 9781108898690
ISBN (Print)9781108841450
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Mar 2021

Keywords

  • welfare economics
  • welfarism
  • non-welfarism
  • ethics
  • Policy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Economics and Econometrics
  • History and Philosophy of Science
  • Philosophy

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