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Innis Lecture: Equity and equality

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  • Jean‐Yves Duclos

Abstract

Is horizontal equity (HE) the ‘most widely accepted principle of equity’? Or does it stand in ‘opposition to the advancement of human welfare’? This paper argues that the case for the HE principle is not as straightforward as is usually thought and that it requires advanced notions of justice and well‐being. The most likely ethical basis for HE appears to combine a Rawlsian maximin principle and a view of well‐being that allows for relative local comparison effects. The paper also explores some of the dimensions of equality and well‐being along which the HE principle can be applied and presents a number of examples showing how HE considerations can provide an important input into policy analysis. Le principe d́ d'équité horizontale (HÉ) constitue‐t‐il ‘le principe éthique le plus largement admis’? Ou est‐il un frein ‘à l'avancement du bien‐être’? Cet article explique pourquoi les assises éthiques du principe d'ÉH ne sont pas aussi claires qu'il est parfois suggéré et démontre que ce principe fait plutôt appel a des notions avancées de justice et de bien‐être. Les assises morales les plus susceptibles d'appuyer le principe d'ÉH semblent combiner un argument de type maximin rawlsien et une perspective du bien‐être qui tient compte des effets locaux relatifs de comparaison. Le papier explore également certaines des dimensions de l'égalité et du auxquelles le principe d'ÉH peut être applique et présente un certain nombre d'exemples montrant en quoi de considérations de type ÉH peuvent influencer l'analyse de politiques.

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  • Jean‐Yves Duclos, 2006. "Innis Lecture: Equity and equality," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 39(4), pages 1073-1104, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:39:y:2006:i:4:p:1073-1104
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5982.2006.00382.x
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    2. Carmen Pagliari & Iacopo Odoardi, 2017. "Improving the Relationship between Welfare Economics and Ethics," Annales. Ethics in Economic Life, University of Lodz, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, vol. 20(4), pages 37-50, December.
    3. Haeck, Catherine & Lefebvre, Pierre & Merrigan, Philip, 2015. "Canadian evidence on ten years of universal preschool policies: The good and the bad," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 137-157.

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