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The moral force of the benefit principle

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  • Voyiakis, Emmanuel

Abstract

What gives the benefit principle its moral appeal as an idea of tax justice? And what can count as a benefit for that purpose? My claim is that we can trace the moral force of various versions of the principle to five ideas: individual justification, causal feedback, reciprocity, opposable valuation and non-objectionable baseline. I develop those ideas into an account of the moral permissibility of benefit-based taxation, and explain how that account addresses problems about the quantification and valuation of benefits and the relationship between benefit and the justice of the background distribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Voyiakis, Emmanuel, 2026. "The moral force of the benefit principle," Economics and Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 42(1), pages 26-46, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:ecnphi:v:42:y:2026:i:1:p:26-46_2
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