Impossibility results in social choice theory are the main reason why democratic social choice, including welfare economics, have often been considered as inapplicable in making social welfare judgments for the society as a whole. However, impossibilities and social choice pessimisms can be overcome by broadening the informational basis of social choice. A critical element in this broadening is the use of interpersonal comparisons of well-being and individual advantage, but this need not be the only form of broadening needed to resolve an impasse in social choice.
