Welfare economics is a field of economics that looks at the problem of allocating resources. It uses techniques from microeconomics to assess general well-being. From this assessment, it tries to find an allocation of productive factors as to desirability and economic efficiency within an economy, often relative to competitive general equilibrium. It analyzes "social welfare" in terms of economic activities of the individuals that compose the theoretical society considered. Individuals and their economic activities are the basic units for aggregating to social welfare. The aggregation may focus on a group of people, a community, or a society. There is no "social welfare" apart from the "welfare" associated with its individual units.
Welfare economics typically takes individual preferences as given and tries to improve welfare in terms of Pareto efficiency. As an example, social state B is "better" than social state A, if at least one person prefers "B" and no one else opposes it. Another aspect of welfare treats income/goods distribution, including equality, as a further dimension of welfare.
Social welfare refers to the overall welfare of society. With sufficiently strong assumptions, it can be defined as the sum of the welfare of all the individuals in the society. Welfare may be measured either cardinally in terms of "utils" or dollars, or measured ordinarily in terms of Pareto efficiency. The cardinal method in "utils" is rarely used in pure theory today. Its main problem is that different kinds of "utility" cannot easily be summed up without losing the meaning of the measurement. In applied welfare economics money-value estimates are often used. One example of applied welfare economics is cost-benefit analysis. Money-value estimates are a useful form of measurement where income-distribution effects are factored into the analysis or seem unlikely to change the analysis.
The capabilities approach to welfare argues that freedom - what people are free to do or be - should be included in welfare assessments, and the approach has been particularly influential in development policy circles where the emphasis on multi-dimensionality and freedom has shaped the evolution of the Human Development Index.
Other classifying terms in welfare economics include externalities, equity, justice, inequality, and altruism.
American Motors
American Motors (AMC) was an American car company. It was formed in 1954 when Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company became one company. It is famous for its Javelin and AMX muscle cars. AMC bought the Jeep car company in 1970. In 1987, Chrysler bought AMC for US $1.5 billion.
Jaffna District
Jaffna District ( ""; ) is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka. Districts are the second level of administrative division of the country. The capital of the district is the city of Jaffna.
Jaffna District is divided into 15 Divisional Secretary's Division (DS Divisions), each headed by a Divisional Secretary (previously known as an Assistant Government Agent). The DS Divisions are further sub-divided into 435 Grama Niladhari Divisions (GN Divisions).
Districts of Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, districts (, ) are the second-level administrative divisions. The first level are the provinces. Each province contains a number of districts. There are 25 districts in the country. They are organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary. Secretaries are appointed by the central government.
All population numbers are from the most recent census of Sri Lanka, in 2012. Population density has been calculated using the land area rather than the total area (total area would have included the area of rivers and lakes).
Kilinochchi District
Kilinochchi District ( ""; ) is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka. These districts are the second level of administrative divisions in the country; the first level are the provinces. Kilinochchi District is part of the Northern Province. The capital of the district is the town of Kilinochchi.
Kilinochchi District is in the north of Sri Lanka in the Northern Province. It has an area of .
Kilinochchi District is divided into 4 Divisional Secretary's Division (DS Divisions), each headed by a Divisional Secretary (previously known as an Assistant Government Agent). The DS Divisions are further sub-divided into 95 Grama Niladhari Divisions (GN Divisions).
Nanjing University
Nanjing University is one of the oldest universities in China. It is in Nanjing. It started in 258 CE. In 1902, it became a new-type school when the Qing Dynasty ended. Nanjing University has two campuses. They are the Gulou campus, which is in the center of Nanjing City; and Xianlin, in the northeast of Nanjing.
Mannar District
Mannar District ( ""; ) is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka. Districts are the second-level administrative divisions of the country. The capital of the district is the town of Mannar.
Mannar District is in the north west of Sri Lanka. It is part of the Northern Province. It has an area of .
Vavuniya District
Vavuniya District ( ""; ) is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka. Districts are the second-level administrative divisions of the country. The capital of the district is the city of Vavuniya.
Vavuniya District is in the north of Sri Lanka. It is part of the Northern Province. It has an area of .
Vavuniya District is divided into 4 Divisional Secretary's Division (DS Divisions), each headed by a Divisional Secretary (previously known as an Assistant Government Agent). The DS Divisions are further sub-divided into 102 Grama Niladhari Divisions (GN Divisions).
Valkeakoski
Valkeakoski is a city in Finland. It is known for its paper industry. Nearby municipalities are Akaa, Hattula, Hämeenlinna, Kangasala, Lempäälä and Pälkäne. In 1973, Sääksmäki was merged with Valkeakoski.
Vavuniya
Vavuniya (, ) is a large town in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is governed by an Urban Council. It is also the main town of Vavuniya District.
Mullaitivu District
Mullaitivu District ( ""; ) is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka. Districts are the second level administrative divisions of the country. The capital of the district is the town of Mullaitivu.
Mullaitivu District is in the north east of Sri Lanka. It is part of the Northern Province. It has an area of .
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province ( '; ') is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka. The capital of the province is Trincomalee.
Provinces are the first level administrative division of the country. Provinces in Sri Lanka were created in the 19th century. Provincial councils were created in 1987 by a change to the Constitution. Between 1988 and 2006 the Northern Province and the Eastern Province were temporarily put together to make the North Eastern Province.
The Eastern Province has an area of .
Central Province, Sri Lanka
The Central Province ( ', ') is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka. It is located in the central mountainous area of the island. It is the sixth largest province by area. About 2.5 million people live here. The border of this province are North Central Province on the North, Uva Province on the East, North Western Province on the West and Sabaragamuwa Province on the South and West. The province's capital is Kandy.
North Central Province, Sri Lanka
North Central Province ( ', ') is a province of Sri Lanka. Its capital city is Anuradhapura. The province is not densely populated. It has a weak economy.
Anuradhapura is the only major city. It is governed by a Municipal Council. Other towns in the province are:
Sagittarius A*
Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) is a bright astronomical radio source at the center of the Milky Way. It is in the direction of the constellations Sagittarius and Scorpius.