Can We—and Should We—Measure Well-Being? |
| |
Authors: | Mark D White |
| |
Institution: | Department of Philosophy, College of Staten Island/CUNY, Staten Island, NY10314, USA |
| |
Abstract: | In this article, I argue that recent criticisms of happiness research in economics can be extended to any conception of well-being used for scientific or policymaking purposes. These criticisms are both practical and ethical: well-being is not only impossible to define, measure, or implement, but its use also offends human dignity through unjust distribution of harm and value substitution. On this basis, I recommend the abandonment of welfare economics and urge social economists to propose new approaches to addressing social problems that are more focused and respect the dignity of persons. |
| |
Keywords: | dignity welfare economics well-being policy happiness |
|
|