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Children's Rights with Endogenous Fertility

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  • Brad R. Taylor

    (Australian National University)

Abstract

This paper uses hypothetical contractarianism to consider the value of children’s rights laws as a means of protecting children. Laws protecting children from their parents have the unintended but predictable consequence of making child-rearing less desirable for some parents and thereby reducing the number of children born. Such laws therefore produce a trade-off between the expected wellbeing of actual and possible persons. I show that a possible child behind an appropriate veil of ignorance may rationally oppose laws which benefit some and harm no actual children.

Suggested Citation

  • Brad R. Taylor, 2014. "Children's Rights with Endogenous Fertility," Rationality, Markets and Morals, Frankfurt School Verlag, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, vol. 5(87), November.
    • Handle: RePEc:rmm:journl:v:5:y:2014:i:87
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    References listed on IDEAS

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