Economic Analysis, Moral Philosophy, and Public Policy

This book shows through argument and numerous policy-related examples how understanding moral philosophy can improve economic analysis, how moral philosophy can benefit from economists' analytical tools, and how economic analysis and moral philosophy together can inform public policy. Part I explores the idea of rationality and its connections to ethics, arguing that when they defend their formal model of rationality, most economists implicitly espouse contestable moral principles. Part II addresses the nature and measurement of welfare, utilitarianism and cost-benefit analysis. Part III discusses freedom, rights, equality, and justice - moral notions that are relevant to evaluating policies, but which have played little if any role in conventional welfare economics. Finally, Part IV explores work in social choice theory and game theory that is relevant to moral decision making. Each chapter includes recommended reading and discussion questions.

Author: Daniel Hausman, Michael McPherson, Debra Satz
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 12/15/2016
Pages: 414
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.35lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.90d
ISBN13: 9781316610886
ISBN10: 1316610888
BISAC Categories:
- Business & Economics | Economics | Theory
- Philosophy | Ethics & Moral Philosophy
- Political Science | Public Policy | Economic Policy