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A Fair Share

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Jackson
  • Peter Hill

Abstract

`I just want a fair share!' We all say it, but what is fair? The most complete answer is John Rawls's A Theory of Justice. Experimental tests of Rawls's theory were conducted to generate some empirical data to compare with similar studies done in the United States and Poland by Norm Frohlich and Joe Oppenheimer. The subjects were university students who made decisions behind a veil of ignorance to govern subsequent distributions of money. Subjects identified and agreed on distributive principles, as Rawls's theory asserts, but they gave little support to Rawls's principle of maximizing the worst off. The main conclusion is that individuals and groups have complex conceptions of justice that do not reduce to a simple principle. These subjects were less confident than their American counterparts, and they changed their minds as the experiment continued.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Jackson & Peter Hill, 1995. "A Fair Share," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 7(2), pages 169-179, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jothpo:v:7:y:1995:i:2:p:169-179
    DOI: 10.1177/0951692895007002004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Grzegorz Lissowski & Tadeusz Tyszka & Wlodzimierz Okrasa, 1991. "Principles of Distributive Justice," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 35(1), pages 98-119, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Giacomo Degli Antoni & Marco Faillo & Lorenzo Sacconi & Pedro Francés-Gomez, 2016. "Distributive Justice with Production and the Social Contract. An Experimental study," Econometica Working Papers wp60, Econometica.
    2. İbrahim Erdem SEÇİLMİŞ, 2014. "Seniority: A Blessing or A Curse? The Effect of Economics Training on the Perception of Distributive Justice," Sosyoekonomi Journal, Sosyoekonomi Society, issue 22(22).
    3. Janna Thompson, 2005. "Intergenerational Equity in an Ageing Society," Agenda - A Journal of Policy Analysis and Reform, Australian National University, College of Business and Economics, School of Economics, vol. 12(1), pages 83-96.

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