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| Alessandro Lanteri |
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| ''A note on the Trolley Problem and Three Weaknesses of Economic Theory
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| ( 2010, Vol. 30 No.1 ) |
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| The trolley problem is a moral dilemmas in which human lives are in danger and some, but not all, can be saved by direct intervention of a decision-maker. This article discusses three weaknesses of microeconomics with respect to individual conduct in the trolley problem: (i) it cannot make predictions; (ii) after observing the conduct of participants in an experiment, it cannot explain their decisions; (iii) it cannot suggest policies that ensure the maximization of aggregate welfare, nor can it suggest laws that endorse the prevailing observed conduct. |
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| Keywords: experiment, moral dilemma, trolley problem, |
JEL: B4 - Economic Methodology: General
C9 - Design of Experiments: General |
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| Manuscript Received : Oct 13 2009 | | Manuscript Accepted : Feb 09 2010 |
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