On the construction and representation of social welfare orders satisfying consequentialist equity axioms

Abstract

In this paper we examine the constructive nature of social welfare orders on infinite utility streams $X=Y^{\mathbb{N}}$ satisfying Strong Equity, Hammond Equity, or the Pigou--Dalton transfer principle. The constructive social welfare orders are described using lexicographic preference relations. Social welfare orders satisfying Strong Equity, Hammond Equity, or the Pigou--Dalton transfer principle admit explicit descriptions when $Y(<)$ is well-ordered. We describe restrictions on the domain $Y$ under which the existence of social welfare orders satisfying the aforementioned equity axioms entails the existence of a non-Ramsey collection. For this, we rely on the existence of a non-Ramsey collection, which is treated here as a nonconstructive object.