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Factual versus representational utilities and their interdimensional comparisons

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Abstract

In spite of the formal analogy of multidimensional individual choice (MIC) to social choice (SC), interdimensional utility comparisons do result from MIC but interpersonal utility comparisons do not result from SC. This anomaly is clarified via the basic differences between MIC and SC, and related to the distinction between representational a posteriori and factual a priori measurement based on, respectively, a biconditional and a uniconditional correspondence rule. Sen's notion of partial interpersonal comparability of utility is shown to be solely in the realm of factual measurement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Catholic University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Th. Bezembinder

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Switzerland

    P. van Acker

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  1. Th. Bezembinder
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  2. P. van Acker
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Bezembinder, T., van Acker, P. Factual versus representational utilities and their interdimensional comparisons. Soc Choice Welfare 4, 79–104 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00450992

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