Abstract

Social benefits in the distant future receive very little importance when a public policy analysis uses a constant-discounting model with its geometric timing weights to compare future benefits with present costs. This paper defines conditions on social preferences that imply a model having arbitrary timing weights. We then introduce a condition on preferences that restricts this general model to one in which the timing weights are linear fractional This model is proposed as an alternative to the constant-discounting model. It accords far more importance to the distant future than does constant discounting, and like constant discounting it depends on the assessment of a single parameter.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.