IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/pophec/v6y2007i2p193-217.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Are generational savings unjust?

Author

Listed:
  • Frédéric Gaspart

    (Université catholique de Louvain (ECRU), Belgium, gaspart@ecru.ucl.ac.be)

  • Axel Gosseries

    (Fonds national de la recherche scientifique (FNRS) and Université catholique de Louvain (Chaire Houver), Belgium, gosseries@etes.ucl.ac.be)

Abstract

In this article, we explore the implications of a Rawlsian theory for intergenerational issues. First, we confront Rawls's way of locating his `just savings' principle in his Theory of Justice with an alternative way of doing so. We argue that both sides of his intergenerational principle, as they apply to the accumulation phase and the steady-state stage, can be dealt with on the bases, respectively, of the principle of equal liberty (and its priority) and of the difference principle. We then proceed by focusing on the implications of applying maximin to his steady-state stage. One central claim is that, in principle, Rawlsians should consider not only generational dissavings, but also generational savings, as unfair. This principle suffers a series of exceptions on which we focus in the fourth section of the article. In some cases, growth can be maximin compatible.

Suggested Citation

  • Frédéric Gaspart & Axel Gosseries, 2007. "Are generational savings unjust?," Politics, Philosophy & Economics, , vol. 6(2), pages 193-217, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:pophec:v:6:y:2007:i:2:p:193-217
    DOI: 10.1177/1470594X07073006
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1470594X07073006
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/1470594X07073006?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:pophec:v:6:y:2007:i:2:p:193-217. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.