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  • © 2017

Economics as Applied Ethics

Fact and Value in Economic Policy

Palgrave Macmillan

Authors:

  • Treats Economics as an applied science
  • Breaks down, clearly, an analysis of economic policy issues to what are matters of fact and matters of values
  • Highlights the main value judgements in the analysis of what policies contribute to society's economic welfare

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Table of contents (19 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
  2. Introduction

    • Wilfred Beckerman
    Pages 1-3
  3. Basic Principles

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 5-5
    2. Preview

      • Wilfred Beckerman
      Pages 7-16
    3. The Main Concepts

      • Wilfred Beckerman
      Pages 17-29
    4. Fact and Value in Personal Choice

      • Wilfred Beckerman
      Pages 31-37
    5. How to Make ‘Bad’ Choices

      • Wilfred Beckerman
      Pages 39-52
    6. Fact and Value in Public Policy: Three Examples

      • Wilfred Beckerman
      Pages 53-62
    7. The ‘Mindless Society’

      • Wilfred Beckerman
      Pages 77-91
    8. Utilitarianism and Its Constraints

      • Wilfred Beckerman
      Pages 105-116
  4. Applications

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 117-117
    2. GDP and Friends

      • Wilfred Beckerman
      Pages 119-133
    3. Well-Being and Happiness

      • Wilfred Beckerman
      Pages 135-151
    4. The Discount Rate

      • Wilfred Beckerman
      Pages 153-167
    5. The Price of Life

      • Wilfred Beckerman
      Pages 169-185
    6. Equality: ‘Fact’ or ‘Value’?

      • Wilfred Beckerman
      Pages 187-207
    7. Equality of What?

      • Wilfred Beckerman
      Pages 209-226
    8. The Boundary in Space: International Justice

      • Wilfred Beckerman
      Pages 227-248

About this book

This important textbook has been revised and updated to continue its focus on the link between ethics and economic policy analysis, whilst ensuring that perspectives addressing the moral limits of the market, latest behavioural economics literature, and the changes in inequality over the years are included. Basic philosophical concepts are systematically described, followed by conventional welfare economic theory and policy, and applications to some topical economic problems such as income distribution and sustainable development.  

Authors and Affiliations

  • University College London , London, United Kingdom

    Wilfred Beckerman

About the author

Wilfred Beckerman is an Emeritus Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford University, England, and is now an Honorary Visiting Professor in the Department of Economics at University College London.  He has been a Member of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution; the Economic Advisor to the President of the British Board of Trade; and Head of Division at the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development. He has also been a Visiting Professor at universities in France and the U.S.A., and a consultant to the World Bank, the United Nations, and the International Labour Organization. His books include An Introduction to National Income Analysis; In Defence of Economic Growth; Measures of Leisure, Equality and Welfare; Poverty and the Impact of Income Maintenance Programs; Growth, the Environment and the Distribution of Incomes; Poverty and Social Security in Britain since 1961 [with Stephen Clark];  and Justice, Posterity, and the Environment [with JoannaPasek]. 

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access