Econometrica

Journal Of The Econometric Society

An International Society for the Advancement of Economic
Theory in its Relation to Statistics and Mathematics

Edited by: Guido W. Imbens • Print ISSN: 0012-9682 • Online ISSN: 1468-0262

Econometrica: Jul, 1980, Volume 48, Issue 5

Equity Among Generations

https://doi.org/0012-9682(198007)48:5<1251:EAG>2.0.CO;2-N
p. 1251-1256

Lars-Gunnar Svensson

Normally the objective functions used in optimal growth theory either treat present generations more favorable than future ones or give an incomplete ranking of possible welfare distributions. The problem is the infinite horizon. In this paper we analyze the conditions under which it is possible to treat a countably infinite number of generations equally. The existence of equitable objective functions or preferences, giving a complete ranking of possible welfare distributions, is proved.


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