The Conflict between Notions of Fairness and the Pareto Principle

19 Pages Posted: 29 Sep 1999

See all articles by Louis Kaplow

Louis Kaplow

Harvard Law School; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Steven Shavell

Harvard Law School; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: Fall 1999

Abstract

Most legal academics and policymakers believe that notions of fairness should be accorded positive weight in evaluating legal policies. We explain, however, that ascribing importance to any notion of fairness (other than one concerned solely with the distribution of income) will sometimes lead to a conflict with the Pareto principle. That is, to endorse a notion of fairness is to endorse the view that it can be desirable to adopt a legal rule that will reduce the well-being of every person in society.

JEL Classification: K00, D63, H43

Suggested Citation

Kaplow, Louis and Shavell, Steven, The Conflict between Notions of Fairness and the Pareto Principle (Fall 1999). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=161269 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.161269

Louis Kaplow

Harvard Law School ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://www.law.harvard.edu/faculty/directory/facdir.php?id=32&show=bibliography

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Steven Shavell (Contact Author)

Harvard Law School ( email )

1575 Massachusetts
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Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
617-495-3668 (Phone)
617-496-2256 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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