An allocation rule is ‘consistent’ if the recommendation it makes for each problem ‘agrees’ with the recommendation it makes for each associated reduced problem, obtained by imagining some agents leaving with their assignments. Some authors have described the consistency principle as a ‘fairness principle’. Others have written that it is not about fairness, that it should be seen as an ‘operational principle’. We dispute the particular fairness interpretations that have been offered for consistency, but develop a different and important fairness (...) foundation for the principle, arguing that it can be seen as the result of adding ‘some’ efficiency to a ‘post-application’ and efficiency-free expression of solidarity in response to population changes. We also challenge the interpretations of consistency as an operational principle that have been given, and here identify a sense in which such an interpretation can be supported. We review and assess the other interpretations of the principle, as ‘robustness’, ‘coherence’ and ‘reinforcement’. (shrink)

In the context of classical exchange economies, we study four ways in which agents can strategically take advantage of allocation rules by affecting who participates and on what terms (Thomson in Soc Choice Welf 42:289–311, 2014). (1) An agent transfers their endowment to someone else and withdraws. The two of them may end up controlling resources that allow them to simultaneously reach higher welfare levels than they otherwise would. (2) An agent invites someone in and let their guest use some (...) of their (the host’s) endowment. The guest transfers back to them what they are assigned over their endowment. The host may benefit. (3) An agent withdraws with their endowment. As in (1), they and someone who stays may end up controlling resources that allow the two of them to simultaneously reach higher welfare levels than they otherwise would. (4) An agent pre-delivers to someone else the net trade that the rule would assign to that agent had the agent participated. The second agent withdraws. The first agent participates with a modified endowment. The first agent may benefit. We ask whether “the constrained priority rules”, defined by maximizing the welfare of a particular agent subject to each of the others finding their assignment at least as desirable as their endowment satisfy these various requirements. The answers are all negative. Because these types of rules are often better behaved than rules that attempt some fairness in distributing gains from trade, these results strengthen the negative conclusions reached in Thomson (2014), and they may provide the key to identifying circumstances in which rules exist that satisfy the axioms, or to proving general impossibility results. (shrink)

We consider the problem of fair allocation in economies with indivisible goods. Our primary concept is that of an envy-free allocation, that is, an allocation such that no agent would prefer anyone else's bundle to his own. Since there typically is a large set (a continuum) of such allocations, the need arises to identify well-behaved selections from the no-envy solution. First we establish the non-existence of ‘population monotonic’ selections. Then we propose a variety of selections motivated by intuitive considerations of (...) fairness. (shrink)

Discussions of over 200 selected ethical problems that face the practicing physician on a daily basis. Alphabetical arrangement of problems, ranging from abortion to Zen. Entry includes lengthy discussion and references.

This classic text, written by philosopher and mathematician William Thomson, presents a systematic exposition of the laws of thought and their role in science, logic, and philosophy. The book is still widely used in philosophy and mathematics courses today. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within (...) the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant. (shrink)

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in (...) the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant. (shrink)