Could it be that there is a misspelling for Pareto's "ophelimity " ? See: http://homepage.newschool.edu/het//essays/paretian/paretoptimal.htm "We will say that the members of a collectivity enjoy maximium ophelimity in a certain position when it is impossible to find a way of moving from that position very slightly in such a manner that the ophelimity enjoyed by each of the individuals of that collectivity increases or decreases." (V. Pareto, 1906: p.261). (Manual of Political Economy , 1906 (Italian; French transl., 1909, English transl, 1971). ) Michael Ambrosi Quote from Robin Neill <[log in to unmask]>: > Colleagues: > > Within the past six months I ran across a statement that > a mid to late nineteenth century, mathematical economist > suggested the usefullness of a "opthalimity meter" - to > objectively measure "satisfaction". I have had no success > in again finding the statement, and I cannot even remember > who the economist was. Can any of you? > > Robin Neill >