Economists, value judgments, and climate change: A view from feminist economics

Authors

Julie A. Nelson, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

April 2008

Abstract

A number of recent discussions about ethical issues in climate change, as engaged in by economists, have focused on the value of the parameter representing the rate of time preference within models of optimal growth. This essay examines many economists' antipathy to serious discussion of ethical matters, and suggests that the avoidance of questions of intergenerational equity is related to another set of value judgments concerning the quality and objectivity of economic practice. Using insights from feminist philosophy of science and research on high reliability organizations, this essay argues that a more ethically transparent, real-world-oriented, and flexible economic practice would lead to more reliable and useful knowledge.

Comments

Link is to working paper version. The final version can be found at http://www.worldcat.org/title/economists-value-judgments-and-climate-change-a-view-from-feminist-economics/oclc/4930762083&referer=brief_results

Recommended Citation

Nelson, Julie A., "Economists, value judgments, and climate change: A view from feminist economics" (2008). Economics Faculty Publication Series. 32.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/econ_faculty_pubs/32