Equality of Resources

•Strict equality of resources holds that a distribution of property rights in resources is just if, and only if, it results in everyone having the same amount of resources
•Solves measurement and comparison problems
•Solves expensive taste problem
•Problem: leveling down
•Almost no one holds this view

John Rawls (1921 – 2002)

•John Rawls was an American moral and political philosopher
•In his book, A Theory of Justice, Rawls proposed a general concept of justice:
•“All social primary goods – liberty and opportunity, income and wealth, and the bases of receives the same resources unless an unequal distribution results in the least well-off receiving more than the self-respect are to be distributed equally if unless an unequal distribution of any or all of these goods is to the advantage of the least favored.” (p. 301)
•The difference principle says a distribution of rights and responsibilities is just if, and only if, everyone maintains strict equal distribution.


Rawls Difference Principle

•Strengths:
- Distributes measurable income and wealth
- Avoids leveling down objective
- Creates incentive for people to contribute
•Weaknesses:
- No extra shares for natural handicaps
- Does not hold people responsible for their choices


Initial Equality of Resources
Ronald Dworkin (1931 – 2013)

•Equality of resources says that a distribution of rights and responsibilities is just if, and only if, it is the result of people’s free choices after an initial strictly equal distribution of resources coupled with insurance against natural handicaps.
•Ambition sensitive: Initial strictly equal distribution of resources. After this, people’s choices determine their fair share.
•Endowment insensitive: A hypothetical insurance market provides extra resources to those with higher costs due to handicaps.


Dworkin’s Equality of Resources

•Strength’s:
- Incentives
- Responsibilities for choices
- Insurance against natural disadvantages
•Weaknesses:
- Distribution will depend on both choices and luck
- Presupposes individual production rather than specialization and division of labor
- Extremely complicated in actual application



Последнее изменение: вторник, 14 августа 2018, 10:16