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An Essay on Economics of “liberal Egalitarianism”. A Selective Combination of Rawls’, Sen’s and Kolm’s Works
[Essai sur l'Économie de «l'Égalitarisme Libéral». Une Combinaison Sélective des Travaux de Rawls, Sen et Kolm]

Author

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  • Claude Gamel

    (GREQAM - Groupement de Recherche en Économie Quantitative d'Aix-Marseille - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - ECM - École Centrale de Marseille - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

In "The Idea of Justice" (2009), Sen firmly criticizes "transcendental" theories of justice, the archetype of which is to be found in Rawls' works and he suggests substituting for them a more pragmatic "comparative" approach. In "Macrojustice" (2005), Kolm defends his conception of an "endogenous social choice", which induces him to keep at a distance Rawlsian concepts, such as "original position" and "veil of ignorance", he considers as too abstract. Concerning Rawls himself, he has offered a philosophical formulation of the second principle of justice ("fair equality of opportunity" and "principle of difference") but that sole formulation remains too vague to contain precise proposals in the field of economic and social policy. In spite of real differences at a epistemological level about the meaning of their own normative ideas, Sen, Kolm and Rawls can be considered as "liberal egalitarians", but economics of this school of thought is still to be specified (1): The Rawlsian hierarchy between the principles de justice would give our essay its general framework (2), whereas Sen's "capability approach" would legitimize a more ambitious conception of "fair equality of opportunity" (3) and Kolm's distributive "ELIE transfers" would be a suitable application of the "principle of difference" (4). As a conclusion, the scope and limits of our essay are subject to a first examination (5).

Suggested Citation

  • Claude Gamel, 2014. "An Essay on Economics of “liberal Egalitarianism”. A Selective Combination of Rawls’, Sen’s and Kolm’s Works [Essai sur l'Économie de «l'Égalitarisme Libéral». Une Combinaison Sélective des Travaux," Working Papers halshs-01092172, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-01092172
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-01092172
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John Rawls, 1974. "Reply to Alexander and Musgrave," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 88(4), pages 633-655.
    2. Claude Gamel, 2012. "Justice Sociale: Hayek et Sen Face à Rawls. Une Proximité Méthodologique Inattendue," Post-Print halshs-00875172, HAL.
    3. Rawls, John, 1974. "Some Reasons for the Maximin Criterion," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 64(2), pages 141-146, May.
    4. Assar Lindbeck & Dennis J. Snower, 1989. "The Insider-Outsider Theory of Employment and Unemployment," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 026262074x, April.
    5. Schokkaert, Erik, 2009. "Critical Notice: Macrojustice As A Research Programme," Economics and Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 25(1), pages 69-84, March.
    6. Claude Gamel, 2010. "QUE FAIRE DE « L'APPROCHE PAR LES CAPACITES » ? Pour une lecture « rawlsienne » de l'apport de Sen," Working Papers halshs-00519630, HAL.
    7. Claude Gamel, 2006. "Hayek et Rawls sur la justice sociale : les différences sont-elles «plus verbales que substantielles» ?," Working Papers halshs-00409672, HAL.
    8. Serge-Christophe Kolm, 2006. "Liberté, justice et efficacité : distribution, impôts et transferts optimaux," Revue économique, Presses de Sciences-Po, vol. 57(1), pages 55-84.
    9. Marc Fleurbaey & Maurice Salles & John A. Weymark (ed.), 2011. "Social Ethics and Normative Economics," Studies in Choice and Welfare, Springer, number 978-3-642-17807-8, July.
    10. Serge-Christophe Kolm, 2007. "Macrojustice : distribution, impôts et transferts optimaux," Revue d'économie politique, Dalloz, vol. 117(1), pages 61-89.
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    Keywords

    egalitarianism; liberalism; principles of justice; capabilities; macrojustice; libéralisme; principes de justice; capacités; égalitarisme;
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