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How stationarity contradicts intergenerational equity

Economic Theory volume 72, pages 423–444 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

We show how the condition of stationarity may contradict intergenerational equity. By formalizing the intuition that less sensitivity remains for the continuation of the stream if sensitivity for the interests of the present is combined with stationarity, we point out conflicts (a) between stationarity and the requirement of not letting the present be dictatorial, and (b) between stationarity and equal treatment of generations. We use the results to interpret the non-stationarity of the Chichilnisky and Rank-discounted utilitarian social welfare functions. Non-stationarity combined with time invariance leads to time inconsistency. We illustrate how such non-stationary social welfare functions can be applied in the Ramsey model if time invariance is imposed.

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Acknowledgements

Open Access funding provided by University of Oslo (incl Oslo University Hospital)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1095, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway

    Geir B. Asheim

  2. Department of Economics, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA

    Kuntal Banerjee

  3. Department of Economics, Cornell University, 448 Uris Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Tapan Mitra

Authors
  1. Geir B. Asheim
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  2. Kuntal Banerjee
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  3. Tapan Mitra
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Correspondence to Geir B. Asheim.

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Tapan Mitra passed away on 3 February 2019. Through his work he seamlessly combined authority and grace. He remains a valuable source of inspiration to his co-authors. We thank two anonymous referees, Walter Bossert, Claude d’Aspremont, Marc Fleurbaey, Sean Horan, Adam Jonsson, Paolo Piacquadio, and other seminar participants in Lund, Marseille, Montréal, Oslo, Taipei, Tokyo, and Tucson for helpful comments. This paper is part of the research activities at the Centre for the Study of Equality, Social Organization, and Performance (ESOP) at the Department of Economics at the University of Oslo. Asheim’s research has benefitted from stays at IMéRA–Marseille, CIREQ–Montréal, and Paris School of Economics. An earlier version of this paper was circulated under the title “The necessity of time inconsistency for intergenerational equity”.

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Asheim, G.B., Banerjee, K. & Mitra, T. How stationarity contradicts intergenerational equity. Econ Theory 72, 423–444 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00199-020-01296-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00199-020-01296-8

Keywords

  • Intergenerational equity
  • Stationarity
  • Time inconsistency

JEL Classification

  • D63
  • D71
  • Q01