Ethics of efficiency

The article discusses the problems and contradictions of the most important criterion of economic efficiency - the Pareto criterion. The author shows that this criterion turns out to be untenable in the context of the ethical formulation of the question. A usefulness orientation and strict adherence to the principles of free exchange are not suitable for assessing perverted needs, waste of resources or preferences that are potentially dangerous for other people. The article proposes another performance criterion based on minimizing wasteful use of resources. This criterion, better than the Pareto efficiency criterion, helps to comply with the principles of justice.

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