Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/57561 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
Papers on Economics and Evolution No. 1124
Publisher: 
Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena
Abstract: 
Contemporary mainstream normative economists assess policies in terms of their capacities to satisfy preferences, though most would concede that other factors such as freedom, rights, and justice are also relevant. Why should policy be responsive to preferences? This essay argues that the best reason is that people's preferences are in some circumstances good evidence of what will benefit them. When those circumstances do not obtain and preferences are not good evidence of welfare, there is little reason to satisfy preferences.
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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