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Allocative fairness

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  • Hersch, Gil
  • Rowe, Thomas

Abstract

Questions of fair allocation arise regularly throughout our lives, ranging from the trivial to the significant, for governments, private companies, associations, families, and friends. This article discusses the nature of allocative fairness, which is focused on the fair distribution of divisible and indivisible goods. The recent literature on allocative fairness takes John Broome's discussion of fairness as the proportional treatment of claims as its starting point. On this view, a claim is a reason why an individual ought to receive a good. This article discusses the nature of allocative fairness, claims, and goods. The most prominent allocative procedures in the literature are discussed, including equal allocation, equitable allocation, markets, lotteries, and queues.

Suggested Citation

  • Hersch, Gil & Rowe, Thomas, 2025. "Allocative fairness," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 128181, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:128181
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/128181/
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    6. Kirkpatrick, James R. & Eastwood, Nick, 2015. "Broome's Theory of Fairness and the Problem of Quantifying the Strengths of Claims," Utilitas, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(1), pages 82-91, March.
    7. Wintein, Stefan & Heilmann, Conrad, 2024. "How to be absolutely fair Part I: The Fairness formula," Economics and Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 40(3), pages 626-649, November.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis

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