Should Differences in Income and Wealth Matter?: Volume 19, Part 1 / Edition 1

by Ellen Frankel Paul, Fred D. Miller, Jr, Jeffrey Paul

Overview

The essays in this volume assess the empirical and theoretical questions raised by inequalities of income and wealth. Some consider empirical claims about the amount of equality in modern market economies, assessing the allegation that income and wealth have become more unequally distributed in the past quarter-century. Others consider the extent to which various government initiatives can ameliorate the problems inequality putatively poses. They consider which standards of equality meet the requirements of distributive justice. They also ask if inequality is intrinsically immoral, regardless of its consequences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521005357
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/28/2002
Series:	Social Philosophy and Policy
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.06(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.83(d)

Table of Contents

1. Egalitarianism and welfare state redistribution Daniel Shapiro; 2. Does the welfare state help the poor? Tyler Cowen; 3. The stagnating fortunes of the middle class Edward N. Wolff; 4. Inequality, incentives, and opportunity Donald R. Deere and Finis Welch; 5. Misunderstanding distribution Young Back Choi; 6. Can anyone beat the flat tax? Richard A. Epstein; 7. Why justice requires transfers to offset income and wealth inequalities Richard J. Arneson; 8. The importance of being sufficiently equal James K. Galbraith; 9. Does inequality matter - for its own sake? Alan Ryan; 10. Equal respect and equal shares David Schmidtz; 11. Too much inequality Richard W. Miller; 12. Equality, benevolence, and responsiveness to agent-relative value Eric Mack; 13. How equality matters Hillel Steiner.

Editorial Reviews

'This book is a good initiation for theologians, or any others who want to engage in serious economic debate.' The Heythrop Journal

From the Publisher

Economists, philosophers, and academic lawyers ponder whether there is a moral obligation to reduce differences in income and wealth. They look at empirical claims about the inequality and its recent growth, the extent to which government initiatives can ameliorate problems it causes, standards of equality for various theories of distributive justice, and other aspects. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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