Robert Sugden (economist)

Robert Sugden is a British economist known for his work in behavioral economics, welfare economics, and normative economics. He is Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of East Anglia.

Sugden's research focuses on the foundations of rational choice theory, particularly challenging the standard assumptions of expected utility theory and the completeness of preferences. He advocates for a more descriptive approach to economics, emphasizing the importance of understanding how people actually make decisions rather than how they are assumed to behave under idealized conditions.

His contributions to welfare economics center on the development of "opportunity-based" or "capabilities-based" approaches to welfare analysis. These approaches emphasize the importance of providing individuals with the opportunities and resources necessary to achieve their chosen goals and live flourishing lives, rather than focusing solely on maximizing overall utility or wealth. He is also known for his work on commitment problems and the evolution of social norms.

Sugden's work frequently engages with philosophical issues, particularly those related to rationality, morality, and social justice. He has made significant contributions to the development of behavioral welfare economics, which seeks to integrate insights from behavioral economics into the design of welfare policies and the evaluation of social outcomes. He has also written extensively on the methodology of economics and the role of norms in economic behavior. His contributions have significantly influenced the fields of behavioral economics and normative economics.