Pareto, Consent, and Respect for Dignity: A Kantian Perspective

Abstract:     
This paper argues that the Pareto standard, by which policy changes are approved if they benefit at least one person and harms no one, is ethically questionable despite its nearly universal acceptance among economists and philosophers alike. As usually implemented, the Pareto standard bypasses actual consent, relying instead on hypothetical consent based on imputed measures of preferences or well-being. By so circumventing actual choice, the Pareto standard violates the respect for the dignity of autonomous agents, as emphasized by Immanuel Kant. If actual consent is obtained, however, the independent relevance of the Pareto standard is endangered.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 30

Keywords: Pareto improvement, preferences, consent, dignity, Immanuel Kant

Accepted Paper Series