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The optimum growth rate for population under critical-level utilitarianism

Renström, T.I.; Spataro, L.

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Authors

L. Spataro



Abstract

We characterize optimal consumption, capital, and population growth of a production economy under critical-level utilitarianism. First, we show that neither classical utilitarianism nor average utilitarianism can avoid a corner solution for the population growth rate, in that under the former, population grows at the maximum speed (the so-called repugnant conclusion) while under the latter, it grows at the minimum. Second, we show that critical level utilitarianism yields an interior solution for the population growth rate provided the critical level belongs to a positive, open interval. Finally, we characterize the transition to the steady state and perform comparative dynamics analysis.

Citation

Renström, T., & Spataro, L. (2011). The optimum growth rate for population under critical-level utilitarianism. Journal of Population Economics, 24(3), 1181-1201. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00148-010-0348-2

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jul 1, 2011
Deposit Date Jul 14, 2011
Publicly Available Date Jul 19, 2011
Journal Journal of Population Economics
Print ISSN 0933-1433
Electronic ISSN 1432-1475
Publisher Springer
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 24
Issue 3
Pages 1181-1201
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s00148-010-0348-2
Keywords Critical-level utilitarianism, Economic growth, Population.
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1506102

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Copyright Statement
The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com





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