RA--

You appear to assume that economics is some sort of exact science. Even though the economists want us to think that (and use all kinds of quant measures - tempered by assuming away anything that challenges their numbers - to prove their position) they can't even agree among themselves. There are a whole bunch of unreconstructed Keynsians out theire who totally disagree with the equally unreconstructed Friedmanites. We tend to believe the economists whose policy preferences most closely resembel our own.

So your view of welfare economics 101 really depends on where and with whom you studied it. Mine depends on an under read classic called Politics, Economics and Welfare by economist Charles E. Lindblom and political scientist Robert A. Dahl. Which only shows my prejudices against pure economists

Cheers

JohnT