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MENTAL MODEL · M3180

Sen's Paradox

Sen's Paradox
BusinessHigh supportWelfare Economics
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

A startling conclusion proved by Amartya Sen: under minimal conditions of liberalism, even the extremely mild requirement of Pareto optimality can lead to the impossibility of social choice. In simple terms, individual freedom and social efficiency may not be simultaneously achievable.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

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Analysis of rights conflicts. It reveals the deep tension between 'freedom' and 'efficiency'. It explains why certain seemingly reasonable individual choices (such as not wearing a mask) may conflict with social optimum, providing important guidance for public policy-making.

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Sen's Paradox: If individual freedoms are strictly protected and preferences are diverse, then there exists no social choice that simultaneously satisfies Pareto efficiency and freedom (freedom and efficiency conflict).

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_paradoxZH · Explicit
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