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The distribution problem and Rawlsian reasoning

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  • Bertil Tungodden

    (Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Institute of Economics, Helleveien 30, N-5035 Bergen-Sandviken, Norway)

Abstract

The difference principle of Rawls has been wrongly translated in the formal literature on welfare economics and social choice theory. The difference principle is concerned with the welfare of the members of the least advantaged segment, and, thus, does not - as frequently argued - assign dictatorial power to the person in the worst off position in society. This distinction is important, and the focus on a leximingroup rule makes the Rawlsian position more plausible than it is in the `disguise' of the conventional leximin rule. However, there is a difficulty with this approach, to wit how to understand the least advantaged segment in society. Various definitions are considered in the paper, but it turns out that in most cases these definitions imply that we have to accept the leximin rule. We suggest one line of reasoning that makes the Rawlsian leximingroup rule a genuine alternative to the leximin rule. In this approach, an independent norm level is imposed on the analysis (i.e. a cut off line that is independent of the distribution of welfare under consideration), and the least advantaged segment is identified as those who have less than this minimum stipend.

Suggested Citation

  • Bertil Tungodden, 1999. "The distribution problem and Rawlsian reasoning," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 16(4), pages 599-614.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:sochwe:v:16:y:1999:i:4:p:599-614
    Note: Received: 21 December 1994/Accepted: 15 June 1998
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    Cited by:

    1. Dale Dorsey, 2014. "Equality-tempered prioritarianism," Politics, Philosophy & Economics, , vol. 13(1), pages 45-61, February.
    2. Bertil Tungodden, 2001. "A balanced view of development as freedom," CMI Working Papers WP 2001:14, CMI (Chr. Michelsen Institute), Bergen, Norway.
    3. d'Aspremont, Claude & Gevers, Louis, 2002. "Social welfare functionals and interpersonal comparability," Handbook of Social Choice and Welfare, in: K. J. Arrow & A. K. Sen & K. Suzumura (ed.), Handbook of Social Choice and Welfare, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 10, pages 459-541, Elsevier.

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