Ma`rifat Eqtesadi

The discussion of "social welfare function" and its explanatory variables is one of the important issues of welfare economics. Introducing utility as the explanatory variable is the dominant approach in defining "social welfare function". Such a definition relies on the utility-oriented axiological approach in conventional economics. This idea holds that, the ideal state of society is one in which the highest degree of utility or enjoyment is achieved for all community members. Using an analytical approach, this paper studies the possibility of introducing two-dimensional utility in the social welfare function based on the axiological approach. This view requires the extension of the concept and the scope of "utility" to the otherworldly pleasures, and equality of social welfare by maximizing total worldly and otherworldly pleasure of the community members. The findings show that, two-dimensional utility cannot be an efficient and comprehensive criterion for measuring and ranking the social welfare status of Islam, and cannot be introduced as the main variable of social welfare function in the Islamic approach. Using this variable in the function of Islamic social welfare faces some basic and computational problems. Using essential and lawful goods and services based on need, merit and justice are introduced in this paper, as an explanatory variable in the social welfare function from an Islamic approach.