Reconceptualizing the economic agent to achieve the ecological transition
Abstract
How should we understand the widespread opposition to carbon taxes? Economists studying the acceptability of climate policies start from a conception of the individual that is too narrow to fully answer this question. First, I propose to review the history and epistemological foundations of the standard conception of the agent in economics. This conception does not take into account the diversity of values expressed by individuals in their choices and actions. Second, I sketch an alternative conception proposed by American philosopher Elizabeth Anderson (1993). Third, with this pluralist and expressivist conception of values in mind, I raise the question of individual responsibility in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I argue that any sound understanding of the challenges of the ecological transition should pay attention to social norms and the ways they structure expectations for the good life against which people express their values. Fourth, I discuss the importance of equity, equality, and justice for understanding the popular reaction to climate policies.
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BibTeX
@article{desmaraistremblay2026reconceptualizing,
title = {{Reconceptualizing the economic agent to achieve the ecological transition}},
author = {Maxime Desmarais-Tremblay},
journal = {Revue d'économie industrielle},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05794092v1},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Reconceptualizing the economic agent to achieve the ecological transition
AU - Maxime Desmarais-Tremblay
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - Revue d'économie industrielle
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05794092v1
AB - How should we understand the widespread opposition to carbon taxes? Economists studying the acceptability of climate policies start from a conception of the individual that is too narrow to fully answer this question. First, I propose to review the history and epistemological foundations of the standard conception of the agent in economics. This conception does not take into account the diversity of values expressed by individuals in their choices and actions. Second, I sketch an alternative conception proposed by American philosopher Elizabeth Anderson (1993). Third, with this pluralist and expressivist conception of values in mind, I raise the question of individual responsibility in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I argue that any sound understanding of the challenges of the ecological transition should pay attention to social norms and the ways they structure expectations for the good life against which people express their values. Fourth, I discuss the importance of equity, equality, and justice for understanding the popular reaction to climate policies.
SN - 0154-3229
SN - 1773-0198
ER -