This text aims to show that social welfare theory, as defended by welfare economists and policymakers, is based on a confused and untenable moral theory, is incompatible with a rights-based legal order and is bound to promote unjust and arbitary...
mehr
This text aims to show that social welfare theory, as defended by welfare economists and policymakers, is based on a confused and untenable moral theory, is incompatible with a rights-based legal order and is bound to promote unjust and arbitary redistributions. By advocating a return to the Kantian conception of the moral agent, it aims to show the way to a normative economics that harmonizes with both intuitive morality and the American legal and constitutional tradition
Electronic reproduction; Available via World Wide Web
Cover; Copyright; Contents; Preface; 1. A prior ethical commitment; 2. Ends vs. means: consequentialsim vs. contractarianism; 3. The consequentialist approach to government; 4. Enter the economists; 5. The efficiency standard, corruption and the growth of government; 6. The indeterminancy of social welfare theory ; 7. The contractarian approach to government; 8. The rules of the political game; 9. Playing by the generality rule; 10. Generality and minimalist government; References; Index