Policy Evaluation and the Levelling Down Objection

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Which social welfare function prioritizes improving the well-being of the least well-off individuals?

Levelling down SWF

Utilitarian SWF

MaxMin SWF (correct)

Equality Respecting SWF

What property is associated with Prioritarian SWFs that distinguishes it from Utilitarian SWFs?

Levelling down

Equality in resource distribution

Concavity

Priority to the worse off (correct)

Prioritarian SWFs are concerned with:

Ensuring equality in well-being

Maximizing social welfare

Priority to the worse off (correct)

Concavity

What is a common characteristic of Levelling Down SWFs and Strong Pareto principles?

Promoting equality in resources Signup and view all the answers

What principle involves ensuring that the worst-off members of society are as well off as possible?

Difference principle Signup and view all the answers

According to Egalitarianism, when is x better than y?

When the distribution of well-being in x is more equal than in y Signup and view all the answers

How is the concept of (in)equality described in Simple Egalitarian SWF?

By calculating the difference in well-being between persons Signup and view all the answers

Which principle posits that transferring 'k units of well-being value' from Ann to Bob may yield a better outcome?

Prioritarianism Signup and view all the answers

What does the Difference Principle focus on?

Addressing the disparities in well-being between individuals Signup and view all the answers

In the context of Equality of well-being, what does the term SWF stand for?

Social Welfare Function Signup and view all the answers

What concept is represented by the statement 'x ≻ y iff ∑i ui (x) > ∑i ui (y)'?

Utilitarian SWF Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the text, which principle highlights that increasing the well-being of one individual while reducing another's by the same amount results in equally good outcomes?

Transitional Equity Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the principles that somehow care about equality of well-being, contrasted with Utilitarianism?

Prioritarian SWF Signup and view all the answers

In the lecture, what is the central theme when asking who should be considered part of society for the assessment of well-being?

Membership criteria Signup and view all the answers

What is a necessary condition for a policy to avoid the levelling down objection?

It benefits at least one person. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of an equality-respecting SWF?

It distributes well-being equally among individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What is the general form of an egalitarian SWF?

f(uA) + f(uB) + EQ(uA, uB) Signup and view all the answers

What is an implication of the levelling down objection?

A policy is subject to criticism if it does not benefit anyone. Signup and view all the answers

What does Simple Egalitarianism illustrate?

That well-being should be equally distributed. Signup and view all the answers

What type of SWF is illustrated in the given example?

Egalitarian Signup and view all the answers

According to the given example, what is the condition for x to be better than y?

uA + uB - 2⋅ ∣ uA − uB ∣ is greater for x than for y Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between egalitarianism and utilitarianism?

Egalitarianism prioritizes equality, while utilitarianism prioritizes total well-being Signup and view all the answers

What is an implication of the given example in the context of well-being transfer?

Making Bob worse off can make the situation better Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of SWFs, according to the context?

Distributing well-being equally Signup and view all the answers

According to Prioritarianism, when is x considered better than y?

When i was worse-off than j in y Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes Prioritarian SWFs from Utilitarian SWFs?

Primarily concerned with the least well-off individuals Signup and view all the answers

In (Simple) Prioritarian SWF, which scenario is considered better overall?

Transferring well-being from a better-off to a worse-off person Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of the Difference Principle?

Prioritizing worse-off individuals Signup and view all the answers

When an additional unit of well-being is available, according to Prioritarianism, who should benefit?

Worse-off person Signup and view all the answers

Which principle involves transferring 'k units of well-being value' from a worse-off person to a better-off person?

Prioritarianism Signup and view all the answers

As per Prioritarianism, what happens when well-being is transferred from a better-off to a worse-off person?

The new well-being is higher Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Simple Prioritarian SWFs?

Prioritizing the worse-off individuals Signup and view all the answers

In the context of utility profiles, what action aligns with Prioritarian principles?

Transferring utility from a higher to lower value person Signup and view all the answers

How does Simple Prioritarianism treat the distribution of well-being?

Gives priority to the worse-off Signup and view all the answers

Which social welfare function prioritizes the well-being of the worst-off person the most?

MaxMin Signup and view all the answers

What is a key distinction between Simple Egalitarianism and Simple Prioritarianism?

One cares about equality itself, while the other does not Signup and view all the answers

What is a key property of all the social welfare functions except for Utilitarianism?

They all respect equality Signup and view all the answers

What is the key idea behind the MaxMin social welfare function?

Transferring well-being from the better-off to the worst-off Signup and view all the answers

Which social welfare function is based on the idea that equality of well-being is 'intrinsically good'?

Simple Egalitarianism Signup and view all the answers