Egenvikter

Egenvikter is a Norwegian term that translates roughly to “own benefits” or “self-benefits.” It is a compound of egen (own) and vikter (weights), and it is used to describe calculations, arguments, or policies that privilege the interests of the actor who makes the decision.

In ethics and political discourse, egenvikter is often used descriptively or critically to refer to self-serving motives behind proposals or reforms that primarily benefit the proposer or a narrow group rather than the general public. The term signals a concern with bias or conflicts of interest in judgment and decision-making.

In decision theory and economics, the concept can describe the weighting of outcomes according to an actor’s own preferences. This form of self-weighting reflects how individuals or organizations prioritize certain results over others, and it can influence evaluations, risk assessments, or policy recommendations. When self-weights dominate, analyses may diverge from social welfare or stakeholder-consensus criteria unless safeguards are put in place.

Usage and interpretation of egenvikter depend on context. In public debate, it is often a normative critique, urging transparency and consideration of broader interests. In academic discussions, it may describe specific modeling choices or bias in evidence weighing.

See also: self-interest, bias, stakeholder theory, value weighting.