Concluding Remarks

We have explored the possibility of a non-welfarist or non-utilitarian interpretation of Pigou. As has been shown, it is evident that Pigou invoked non-welfarist information and values.

Furthermore, we have pursued some new understanding of his entire welfare notion, the hybrid strategy for enhancement of people’s well­being. Some critics have typically stressed utility, satisfaction, and welfare (i.e. the exceedingly subjective account of good) in Pigou’s welfare economics. However, we should notice that he presupposed socially independent individuals (more or less mature) in his general argument. For instance, as his theory of charity (e.g. Pigou 1901b) evidently claimed, he never suggests that it is appropriate to just give the poor or the immature subjective satisfaction alone. Enhancement of character through education or intimate care must be prioritized for all (concrete­ly, he stresses character and capacity for enjoyment, as well as a spirit of cooperation). Subjective desire, satisfaction, and pleasure are supposed to be meaningful if and only if they are freely pursued by those educated, independent, and mature individuals, which is essentially subsumed in the hybrid strategy.