The Yayflies Conclusion
In the novel Venomous Lumpsucker, adult “yayflies” feel only euphoria in their several hours of existence. Does creating tremendous numbers of these genetically engineered gnats create tremendous welfare gains? If you're a utilitarian – and you probably are – the answer is yes! Yayflies are a silly example to introduce a serious paper in the growing field of animal welfare economics. “The Animal-Welfare Levy” by Romain Espinosa and Nicolas Treich considers the following market failure. Farmed animals like chickens, cows, and pigs exist because of agricultural markets. People get utility from consuming animals, but the price we pay for their meat does not include the utility those animals experienced during their lives. This is an externality just like congestion or knowledge. Drivers entering central Manhattan pay $9 because their additional vehicle makes driving slower for others. Governments subsidize research because knowledge is a public good. If the prices of driving and research
The Yayflies Conclusion Published on Development Impact The Yayflies Conclusion Gabriel Englander April 02, 2025 This page in: English English English In the novel Venomous Lumpsucker , adult “yayflies” feel only euphoria in their several hours of existence. Does creating tremendous numbers of these genetically engineered gnats create tremendous welfare gains? If you're a utilitarian – and you probably are – the answer is yes! Yayflies are a silly example to introduce a serious paper in the growing field of animal welfare economics. “ The Animal-Welfare Levy ” by Romain Espinosa and Nicolas Tr
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