In this paper we investigate extensions of the well-known Vickrey[1961]-Clarke[1971]Groves[1973] (VCG) mechanisms to problems whose objective function is not utilitarian and whose agents’ utilities are not quasi-linear. We provide a generalization of utilitarian problems, termed consistent problems, and prove that every consistent problem admits a truthful mechanism. These mechanisms, termed VC...

To enhance communication among users through technology, we propose a framework that communicates ‘pure experience.’ This framework can be achieved by providing emotionally charged communication. To initiate this undertaking, we propose to explore materials for communicating human emotions. Research on emotion mainly focuses on emotions that are relevant to utilitarian concerns. Besides the com...

Purpose – It is assumed that consumers consume games to experience hedonic and utilitarian value. However, there is no conceptual model or empirical evidence that supports this hypothesis in the game context or clarifies whether these consumption values have dual mediated or individual effects. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to model the relationship between hedonic and utilitarian ...

Equal and proportional representation are two poles of a continuum of models of representation for the assembly of a federation of states. The choice of a model has repercussions on the welfare distribution in the federation. We determine, first by means of Monte Carlo simulations, what welfare distributions result after assemblies that were constituted on the basis of different models of repre...

BACKGROUND Moral judgments depend on the integration of complex cognitive and emotional processes. Addiction is associated with core deficits in both cognitive and emotional processing, which may jointly lead to utilitarian biases in moral decision-making. METHODS We assessed 32 polysubstance dependent males and 32 non-drug using controls using a previously validated moral judgment task, incl...

The main objective of this study is to empirically test a fourth-order hierarchical model of experiential value in an online book and CD setting. In addition, we provide empirical evidence for the role of hedonic and utilitarian value components in creating attitudinal and behavioral loyalty. Finally, we develop an online customer typology, based on the underlying value sources. Based on a samp...

Is it permissible to harm one to save many? Classic moral dilemmas are often defined by the conflict between a putatively rational response to maximize aggregate welfare (i.e., the utilitarian judgment) and an emotional aversion to harm (i.e., the non-utilitarian judgment). Here, we address two questions. First, what specific aspect of emotional responding is relevant for these judgments? Secon...

We investigated whether the personal importance of objects influences utilitarian decision-making in which damaging property is necessary to produce an overall positive outcome. In Experiment 1, participants judged saving five objects by destroying a sixth object to be less acceptable when the action required destroying the sixth object directly (rather than as a side-effect) and the objects we...