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Economics is neutral between ends “Discuss the validity of this statement in a welfare state.

User Violet
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Answer:

Economics study scare resources and their allocation to satisfy the innumerable human needs and the various factors of production. The primary concern of Economics is the satisfaction of human needs and wants (ends) with limited or scarce natural resources. So, once ends are satisfied with the scare resources, Economics is okay. Economics is outcome focused and not means focused.

So, in a welfare state, where governments and other public social institutions take it as their responsibilities to cater for the needs of the less privileged members of society, Economics remains neutral with the how the ends of welfarism are satisfied. It becomes satisfied when the outcome of welfarism is achieved. In Economics, you will find economists who are welfare-oriented and those who suggest that "governments have no business in business," and therefore, should allow market forces to determine the distribution of resources. For such Economists on one spectrum, there is total absence of social security programs. Their principle is based on unbridled capitalism.

Step-by-step explanation:

Lionel Robbins, a British Economists, was the first to advocate the concept that "Economics is neutral between ends." This principle hinges on that idea that Economics is a science of scarcity and does not consider it possible to satisfy all human needs with the limited resources available. So, Economics should concentrate on the outcome (the satisfaction of human needs and wants) and not the means of achieving the outcome.

A welfare state is a state where the citizens, especially the vulnerable members are accorded equal opportunities with the more fortunate members, and enjoy some state-guaranteed access to resources. This implies that the state or some other public institutions assume the responsibilities for certain citizens so that they are not disadvantaged too much, contrary to what obtains in a purely capitalist state.

User Aufwind
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